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NEOM Mountain Road: Engineering Resilient Infrastructure Through Challenging Terrain
The NEOM Mountain Road project is part of Saudi Arabia’s transformative infrastructure program. It is designed to deliver safe and efficient mobility across difficult mountainous landscapes. Commissioned by NEOM, the project required engineering solutions that could overcome geotechnical risks while safeguarding sensitive natural environments.
K&A provided the full detailed design for the 60 km corridor, ensuring road safety, durability, and structural integrity under highly complex site conditions.
Addressing Structural and Geotechnical Challenges
The road alignment required crossing an existing dam, introducing major geotechnical and structural risks. Potential settlement beneath the roadway, cracks within the dam body, and uplift pressure threatened both the existing structure and the new road. Protecting the dam while enabling modern mobility demanded a balance of precision engineering and innovative materials.
Innovative Design Solutions
K&A introduced lightweight geofoam boxes as fill above the dam, reducing vertical loads and minimizing settlement risks. To counter uplift pressure, our experts used hollow blocks with side slits, relieving stress on the dam body. Side slopes of the geofoam embankment were reinforced with geogrids, ensuring long-term stability and protection against erosion.
Safe Mobility in a Sensitive Landscape
NEOM Mountain Road project delivered a stable and durable roadway while preserving the structural integrity of the old dam. The integration of lightweight materials and advanced geotechnical techniques minimized settlement risks, controlled uplift pressures, and protected the surrounding environment.
The project demonstrates how innovation in geotechnical and structural design can enable sustainable infrastructure development in some of the most challenging natural settings.
