Rasamny Boosts Road Maintenance, Snow Removal in Preparation for the Storm
Minister of Public Works Fayez Rasamny held a meeting at the ministry with Director General of Roads and Buildings, Dr. Gaby El-Hajj, in the presence of Director of Public Transport Ziad Nasr, and Director of Joint Administration Mounir Soboh.
Discussions reportedly covered a comprehensive review of the administration’s work, short- and long-term plans, projects completed over the past five years, and proposed initiatives along with their economic feasibility.
Rasamny also reviewed the progress of the ministry’s emergency operations to clear and clean rainwater drainage systems along highways across Lebanon. The Public Works Minister instructed the Directorate General of Roads and Buildings and the ministry’s contractors to remain on high alert.
“The ministry’s teams will intensify their continuous operations across all highways and areas under our jurisdiction, from the outskirts of Beirut to the south, Bekaa, the north, and Mount Lebanon. However, highways and roads within the capital fall outside our mandate, making inter-cooperation essential,” the Minister said.
Rasamny further underscored the importance of coordinated efforts to prevent blockages in drainage systems due to waste accumulation. “Municipalities must ensure the daily removal of waste, especially in towns located at higher elevations than highways, to prevent rainwater from carrying garbage into drainage systems and causing floods,” the Minister warned, calling on waste collection companies contracted by the Lebanese government to fulfill their obligations consistently.
“It is unacceptable for waste to be left uncollected. Every entity must take responsibility to prevent environmental and traffic hazards,” emphasized Rasamny.
Reaffirming the ministry’s commitment, Rasamny stated: “The contractor teams will continue their work relentlessly. We have deployed crews to all critical points, ensuring full readiness to handle any unforeseen developments. Precautionary measures are in place to prevent accidents or damage.”
The Minister also urged strict adherence to the guidelines issued by the Internal Security Forces’ Traffic Control Room, emphasizing the importance of public safety.
Regarding winter preparedness, Rasamny directed the ministry’s snow removal centers along the western and eastern mountain ranges to maintain full readiness for upcoming snowstorms.
“The regional directorates in Mount Lebanon, Bekaa, the north, and the south must implement all necessary preventive measures to avoid potential road hazards,” Rasamny instructed.
In a separate discussion, Rasamny was briefed by Sidon Port Director Eng. Imad El-Hajj Chahadeh on the port’s limited operations, which had been primarily restricted to scrap metal exports.
The Public Works Minister finally confirmed that efforts were underway to “diversify port activities and attract more cargo ships, which will significantly boost revenues through the import and export of food products.”
