MAKKAH – Three suspension bridges and four new lanes will be built over the next two years in holy sites to separate the movement of pedestrians from vehicles, announced Sahal Al-Sabban, the Ministry of Haj undersecretary for holy sites' projects. The roads currently being used by vehicles in Mina will be converted into pedestrian-only lanes. Makkah and Holy Sites Development Supreme Commission has approved the design of the project which will cost SR1.8 billion and have a capacity to hold 1,050,000 pilgrims, Al-Sabban noted. This is the fourth phase of the shuttle transportation project which will increase its capacity from 800,000 pilgrims to 1,850,000 pilgrims, he pointed out. The project will help authorities reorganize the lanes of the holy sites. Several roads in Arafat will be redeveloped, as part of this project, and additional spacious lanes will be built which can accommodate 6,000 buses, he said. The three suspension bridges will link King Abdul Aziz Road with King Khaled Road in Mina and King Faisal Bridge in Muzdalifah. The current roads in Mina will be used by pedestrians only in the future because it is difficult for vehicles to use them during Haj. Once completed, the project will reduce the time pilgrims take to move from one holy site to another and will benefit a large number of pilgrims. Haj this year concluded Monday with an unprecedented success.
