Rebuilding of Al-Siyasiyeh Bridge

Project Scope and Executing Parties

The project rebuilds the Al-Siyasiyeh Bridge over the Euphrates River in Deir ez-Zor city. On 4 June 2026, Syria's Ministry of Public Works and Housing announced the start of works to build and rehabilitate the bridge. The works are carried out by the Syrian Establishment for Building and Construction (SEBCO) under the supervision of the Ministry of Transport, represented by the General Establishment for Road Transport, with a contractual period of 12 months. According to SANA, the works began on 29 May 2026.

Engineer Abdel Karim Al-Khader, director of the Deir ez-Zor branch of the General Establishment for Road Transport, told SANA on 4 June 2026 that the establishment's teams had completed the technical and administrative procedures for the contract concluded with the executing body. He said the bridge would reconnect the two banks of the Euphrates and ease the movement of people and goods between the al-Jazira and al-Shamiya areas.

The Bridge and the Works

According to Ahmad Al-Akl, director of SEBCO's Deir ez-Zor branch, the bridge is about 400 metres long and has 11 spans. Six spans collapsed completely, and the remaining five, three on the city side and two on the Hatla side, need maintenance and rehabilitation (SANA, 31 July 2026).

The initial execution plan, as described to SANA in April 2026, starts with the lower part of the bridge: rehabilitating the piers, including their submerged sections, which are enclosed with caissons so that the water can be pumped out. Precast girders are then placed with special cranes and the deck slabs linking them are cast, followed by finishing works such as asphalt, kerbs, safety barriers and lighting. By 19 June 2026, according to SEBCO Director General Hassan Rahmoun, the works had included removing the asphalt layer, building an access path to the piers and preparing a launching gantry for the prestressed girders.

Part of a Plan for Three Bridges

The Al-Siyasiyeh Bridge is one of three Deir ez-Zor bridges covered by a rehabilitation plan, alongside the Al-Mayadeen Bridge and the Al-Ashara Bridge. In April 2026, a delegation from the General Establishment for Road Transport inspected the Al-Siyasiyeh Bridge to update its existing study, and the establishment's Director General, Engineer Moaz Najjar, said the Al-Siyasiyeh and Al-Mayadeen bridges had been included in the 2026 plan. On 29 May 2026, Najjar said the establishment had completed the studies for the projects and that SEBCO would be contracted to carry out the maintenance and rehabilitation works on the three bridges. On 1 June 2026, the Ministry of Public Works and Housing announced that the first phase of reinforcing the Al-Ashara Bridge was finished and that it was preparing to start preparation works on the Al-Siyasiyeh and Al-Mayadeen bridges the following week.

Strategic Importance of the Bridge

The Ministry of Public Works and Housing describes the bridge as one of the vital and strategic projects of Deir ez-Zor Governorate. It links Deir ez-Zor city with its northern countryside and the northern regions of the country, and is one of the main crossing routes between the two banks of the Euphrates.

Why the Bridge Needed Rebuilding

According to the ministry, the destruction of the bridge in past years cut off large parts of the governorate from one another. Residents had to rely on rudimentary boats and river ferries, which exposed them to serious risks, including drowning.

The ministry added that the rising Euphrates also destroyed the temporary earthen crossings built to keep traffic moving. Najjar had said on 29 May 2026 that earlier repairs to the Deir ez-Zor bridges using basic earth fill were damaged by the most recent flood. Pending completion of the permanent bridges, Deir ez-Zor Governorate opened an earthen bridge and a floating bridge on 13 July 2026 as temporary crossings between the city and the al-Jazira area, each with a maximum load of 25 tonnes (Syria TV, 3 August 2026).

Development Objectives

According to the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, the project aims to:

• Restore normal life in the area and ease the movement of citizens
• Boost economic and service activity in the governorate
• Reduce the hardship and risks of crossing the Euphrates
• Give residents a safe and sustainable crossing and improve transport and trade in the governorate

Frequently Asked Questions

Which bridge is being rebuilt and where?

The Al-Siyasiyeh Bridge over the Euphrates River in Deir ez-Zor city. It is about 400 metres long and links the city with its northern countryside and the northern regions of the country.

Who is executing the project and who supervises it?

The Syrian Establishment for Building and Construction (SEBCO) executes the works, under the supervision of the Ministry of Transport represented by the General Establishment for Road Transport. The Ministry of Public Works and Housing announced the start of works on 4 June 2026.

How long will the project take?

The contract period is 12 months, and works began on 29 May 2026. On 31 July 2026, SEBCO said that because progress was ahead of plan, the expected completion date had been brought forward to 29 March 2027.

How far have the works progressed?

On 31 July 2026, actual completion stood at 19 per cent against 8.5 per cent planned. On 2 September 2026, the General Establishment for Road Transport said the piers were well advanced and that girder casting was expected to begin within less than 15 days.

Is this part of a larger plan?

Yes. The Al-Siyasiyeh Bridge is one of three Deir ez-Zor bridges in a rehabilitation plan, together with the Al-Mayadeen Bridge and the Al-Ashara Bridge.

Why did the bridge need rebuilding?

The bridge was destroyed in past years: six of its 11 spans collapsed completely, and earlier temporary fill repairs were damaged by Euphrates flooding, leaving residents reliant on river ferries.

What are the expected benefits?

According to the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, the project is expected to give residents a safe and sustainable crossing between the two banks of the Euphrates, ease the movement of citizens, improve transport and trade, boost economic and service activity in the governorate, and restore the link between Deir ez-Zor city, its northern countryside and the northern regions of the country.

Update 2026-07-31

SANA published progress indicators for the Al-Siyasiyeh Bridge rebuilding project in Deir ez-Zor on 31 July 2026, citing Ahmad Al-Akl, director of the Deir ez-Zor branch of the Syrian Establishment for Building and Construction. Actual completion stood at 19 per cent against 8.5 per cent planned, with about 16 per cent of the contract period elapsed. The contract period is 12 months, and the works began on 29 May 2026; because progress was ahead of plan, the expected completion date was brought forward to 29 March 2027.

Per SANA, reinforced-concrete works on the piers, the main activity on the critical path of the schedule, had reached 60 per cent with completion expected within 25 days; gantry crane assembly stood at 95 per cent (5 days), fabrication of the steel formwork for the slab-bearing girders at 85 per cent (6 days), and structural steel detailing for the main girders at 6 per cent. SANA had earlier reported overall completion of 17 per cent on 20 July 2026, citing the establishment's Director General Hassan Rahmoun, with concrete piers being poured within the Euphrates channel and a launching crane installed to speed execution.

Update 2026-09-02

During a site visit on 2 September 2026, Engineer Moaz Najjar, Director General of the General Establishment for Road Transport, told SANA that work on the bridge piers had made significant progress despite the rise in the Euphrates water level. He said the Syrian Establishment for Building and Construction had completed the girder supports and prepared the launching gantry, and that casting of the girders was expected to begin within less than 15 days.

Engineer Abdel Karim Al-Khader, director of the General Establishment for Road Transport's Deir ez-Zor branch, said the higher river flow had caused a limited delay in casting the pier caps, which had since been overcome, and that preparations were under way to cast the prestressed concrete girders. He said the works were progressing to complete the project within the set technical standards and timeframe.