Riyadh Municipality employs the latest engineering solutions to overcome traditional excavation challenges in vital city locations, notably using Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) technology at major road intersections like King Fahd Road, where open-cut excavation would severely disrupt traffic flow.

As part of the expansion projects for stormwater drainage networks under King Fahd Road, this technique was applied by digging two shafts—launch and reception—outside the roadway. The drilling machine was lowered into the launch shaft to operate directly beneath the road, pushing 2.2-meter diameter concrete pipes for a length of 95 meters at a depth of 5 meters. This route extends from the northern side of King Salman Road in Al-Qirawan neighborhood, connecting to the existing box culvert that drains into Wadi Hanifa.

The project aims to support the stormwater drainage network and enhance rainwater discharge efficiency without impacting traffic flow or disrupting vital roads, demonstrating the effectiveness of this technology in addressing urban challenges.

These works align with Riyadh Municipality’s strategy to develop a smart, sustainable infrastructure that improves quality of life and aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 objectives by implementing strategic projects that boost the city’s efficiency and resilience to environmental and urban challenges.