Travel to the Grand Mosque in Makkah has become significantly shorter following the opening of a new extension of the city’s Third Ring Road.
The Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites said the newly opened section has reduced the distance between the Prince Miteb intersection and Masjid al-Haram from 16.5 kilometres to just 6.5 kilometres, cutting 10 kilometres from the route.
The commission said the development is expected to improve traffic movement and reduce congestion, particularly during peak periods and the busy Hajj and Umrah seasons.
The 1.5-kilometre extension forms part of a broader project to complete Makkah’s Third Ring Road, one of the city’s four major ring roads.
According to the commission, the new road has the capacity to accommodate up to 170,000 vehicles daily in both directions.
The project is also expected to improve road safety and provide easier access to Makkah for residents, pilgrims and visitors.
In another major improvement, the project has shortened the route from the same area to the Jamarat facility in Mina from 12 kilometres to only four kilometres.
The road extension is part of ongoing efforts to modernise Makkah’s transport infrastructure, improve mobility and ease pressure on major routes serving the holy sites.
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