Jordan is getting ready to launch a new electronic toll system called “Salik Jordan.” Officials plan to introduce it in the last quarter of 2025. They have hinted at this change by installing new electronic gates on the Muqer-Omari Road. The goal is to reduce traffic congestion and create a stable revenue source for maintenance and future improvements.
Salik Jordan will use electronic gate technology to keep cars moving, unlike the old toll booths that forced drivers to slow down or stop. Planners say the system aims to give drivers quicker routes while still offering free alternative roads for those who don’t want to pay. Early studies indicate the proposed fee is 11 fils per kilometre for small vehicles and 22 fils per kilometre for trucks and buses. This pricing mechanism captures the effect of the vehicle and the distance traversed.
The Jordanian designers look elsewhere for inspiration. The venture has a strong likeness to foreign and local equivalents. The Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Salik, and Darb systems employ electronic tolling to minimise congestion. Morocco boasts an enormous toll network that serves over 1,800 kilometres of cities. Egypt charges for key routes to maintain heavily used roads. Each example shows how toll revenues can be reinvested into improving roads and better transport planning.
Why should commuters care? Besides shorter trips, Salik Jordan wants to make travel more predictable. Smart tolling can ease traffic during busy times, provide reliable travel times for logistics companies, and encourage investment in related services like roadside maintenance and digital traffic management. For the government, the system provides steady revenue that is separate from general taxes. This funding can be dedicated to road safety and future improvements.
The announcement brings up several practical questions that will influence public opinion. How will payments work for occasional users, tourists, or commercial fleets? What protections will keep privacy intact where cameras or sensors are in use? And perhaps most importantly for everyday drivers, will the time saved be worth the cost?
Officials say detailed studies are in progress. The plan is part of a larger effort to update Jordan’s transport network. It aims to balance economic efficiency with environmental sustainability. If Salik Jordan functions with similar programs in the region, it could result in smoother commutes and smarter roads. This could signal a new chapter in how the Kingdom moves.
