The Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) has set out a new roadmap to enhance the sustainability and resilience of Kuwait's road infrastructure, endorsing 14 strategic recommendations following its forum “Sustainability of Roads in the State of Kuwait: Between the Challenges of the Past and the Prospects of the Future.” The initiative is expected to be of particular interest to regional tyre recycling and materials recovery stakeholders.

The recommendations place scientific research, smart technologies and regulatory reform at the centre of future infrastructure planning. A key priority is intensified research into high-durability asphalt mixtures tailored to Kuwait's extreme climate, with the dual aim of extending road lifespans and reducing long-term maintenance costs.

According to a report cited by Al-Rai, KISR's Energy and Building Research Center has played a central role in shaping this agenda. Its work has included advanced studies on road construction materials, evaluation of environmentally sustainable alternatives, and the development of digital and smart tools to assess road performance and optimise maintenance. Parallel efforts have focused on strengthening national expertise through training programmes, applied research and academic partnerships.

Among the 14 recommendations are calls to strengthen regional and international cooperation—leveraging KISR's membership of the International Road Federation—update national road specifications based on local climate data, and embed sustainability requirements into legislation and procurement frameworks. The roadmap also promotes the wider use of rubberised asphalt, recycled asphalt concrete (RAP) and bio-additives, supported by clear quality and performance standards.

Digitalisation features prominently, with proposals for drone-based inspections, advanced scanning technologies and a unified national road-condition data platform to support predictive maintenance. Incentive schemes for companies adopting low-impact technologies, alongside targeted training for engineers and technicians, are also included.

Collectively, the recommendations signal a shift towards data-driven, climate-resilient and environmentally responsible road infrastructure, positioning recycled materials, innovation and local expertise as core pillars of Kuwait's future transport strategy.

Source: The Times, Kuwait.