Repeated vandalism of road infrastructure costs Kingdom over JD4.5m annually - minister

AMMAN — Minister of Public Works and Housing Maher  Abul Samen on Sunday warned that repeated acts of vandalism on Jordan’s road infrastructure cost the state over JD3 million annually, with an additional JD1.5 million spent on preventative measures.

Abu Samen described the increasing incidents of theft and vandalism targeting road lighting systems, metal safety barriers, and traffic signs as a growing threat that requires urgent legal reforms and strict enforcement, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

He noted that more than 300 such incidents are recorded each year, with stolen materials often repurposed for scrap or used in illegal electricity generation.

“These attacks not only damage vital infrastructure, but also endanger public safety,” Abu Samen said, noting that the absence of lighting increases the risk of nighttime accidents. "The removal of traffic signs, particularly in construction or hazardous zones, can lead to driver confusion, while the theft of safety barriers significantly raises the risk of severe accidents."

The minister also said that the ministry is currently undertaking a comprehensive technical and legal review aimed at proposing legislative amendments and introducing stricter penalties. Preventive measures already in place include the construction of protective enclosures for electrical transformers, the installation of surveillance cameras in high-risk areas, and the deployment of enhanced field patrols, he added.

Abul Samen also urged citizens to actively participate in protecting public assets by reporting suspicious activities, stressing that safeguarding national infrastructure is a shared responsibility.

The Cabinet recently adopted a series of recommendations to counter such violations, including stricter enforcement of Roads Law No. 24 of 1986 and strengthening monitoring efforts by administrative governors and relevant authorities.