Beirut: The Ministry of Public Works and Transport announced the reopening of Chekka International Highway, following direct oversight by Minister Fayez Rasamny. The minister particularly addressed funding obstacles that had long hindered progress on the project and took the necessary measures to accelerate implementation.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, the works were carried out in cooperation with the Higher Relief Committee affiliated with the Presidency of the Council of Ministers. This collaboration enabled the completion of most of the essential works and the reopening of the road ahead of the holiday season. The move ends years of closure and traffic diversions along this vital artery.
The statement noted that the road was initially closed due to a mountain collapse triggered in December 2018 by Storm Norma, shortly before the outbreak of Lebanon's financial crisis, which later negatively affected remediation efforts. Following the collapse, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, through its contractor, implemented temporary wall-reinforcement measures to prevent the expansion of the landslide and reduce risks. However, the financial crisis that began in 2019 led to the suspension of works and a halt in funding.
In 2024, the ministry reassumed responsibility for the file, updated the relevant studies, and transferred funding amounting to USD 6.35 million to the Higher Relief Committee. The committee oversaw implementation in cooperation with consulting firm Khatib and Alami, with execution carried out by the contractor.
The first half of 2024 witnessed slow progress due to funding constraints, which were resolved in mid-2025 following a decision by Minister Rasamny. This paved the way for an accelerated pace of work and the completion of the core infrastructure required to reopen the road.
The ministry stressed that reopening the Chekka International Highway marks a key milestone in resolving a long-standing issue and falls within its ongoing efforts to rehabilitate vital road networks, ensuring public safety and traffic continuity within available resources.