Oman seeks solutions to hazards of sand creep on desert roads

https://www.omanobserver.om/article/1147529/business/economy/oman-seeks-solutions-to-hazards-of-sand-creep-on-desert-roads

OMAN DAILY OBSERVER / 31 DEC 2023

CONRAD PRABHU

MUSCAT: The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology is preparing to commission an international consultant to help identify solutions to the perils of sand creep occurring on key desert roads in the Sultanate of Oman.

Sand creep – also referred to as sediment deposit or sand accumulation – is a perennial phenomenon witnessed in parts of the country where roads cut through sandy desert terrain. Attributable to the action of wind during the khareef season in the south, or stormy weather in the central and eastern parts of the country, they result in mounds of sand being deposited on such desert roads.?

The consequences for unsuspecting motorists ploughing at high speed into these accumulations can be potentially disastrous. Often, by the time crews are despatched to install warning signs and clear the accumulations, vehicle mishaps are inevitable, particularly in times of poor visibility or in remote areas.

Now, in a bid to mitigate potential risks for motorists from this phenomenon, the Ministry has invited suitably qualified international consultants to bid for its contract to study the problem of sand accumulation. The goal is to unearth “practical solutions to address this problem”, according to the Ministry.

Significantly, the study will cover a number of roads that are vulnerable to sand creep in the Sultanate of Oman. They include the Adam – Thamrait highway, Haima – Duqm carriageway, Al Sharqiyah Expressway and The Empty Quarter road -- parts of which intersect sand dunes.

According to experts, viable and sustainable solutions will have to be customized to each highway stretch prone to sand creep, based on prevailing wind conditions, the presence of sand dunes in the windward direction, and other environmental factors.

Elsewhere in the Gulf region, road authorities typically install nylon-net based sand barrier fences in combination with measures designed to control soil erosion and stabilize sand dunes. These measures are known to only partially address the problem.

In China, for example, road contractors opt for nylon net fences, reed-based barriers and fences, artificial vegetation and chemical and clay fixers – with varying degrees of success.

The initiative to tackle sand creep is in line with Oman’s commitment to raising the overall motoring and safety standards of its national highway network, the Ministry noted.