Abdullah Ghurman Okaz/Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — Traders and shop owners in a south Jeddah neighborhood have claimed that they are experiencing losses due to continuing work on sewage disposal network in their area. Businessmen in the Kilo 14 neighborhood said customers cannot reach their shops due to the work and business has declined by 50 percent. They cannot easily unload deliveries to their shops and have to rely on additional workers for this task, increasing costs. The ongoing work also poses a threat to public safety, said the traders, adding an expatriate worker fell into a manhole and died. Local residents said there are no signs indicating when the work began and when it will be completed. If true, this would be a violation of the National Anti-Corruption Commission's rule that all projects should post signs that state the date of beginning work and the deadline for completion. Some traders are asking local authorities to reimburse them for their losses. An official at the National Water Company (NWC) said the project would not be completed for another six months at least. Jeddah's streets have become so infamous for potholes that residents are complaining roads are dug up, paved and then re-dug the next day. Drivers have to maneuver and swerve to avoid holes in the streets. The timing of the road works is questionable, said residents, adding that they usually begin when Jeddah is flooded with visitors. In addition, residents said such work begins without prior notice and they are surprised by closed streets that were accessible a day before.
