Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH — Residents of Jeddah have complained about ongoing and severe traffic congestion and asked traffic police to come up with a solution to this steadily increasing problem. Talking to local daily Al-Madinah on Monday, a number of residents have said their lives have become impossible because of this unprecedented traffic congestion. "We notice an increase in traffic jams every year but this year the congestion is unbelievable and the traffic police is not doing anything about it," said Ali Al-Zaydi, a Saudi resident. Saleh Al-Harbe, another Saudi, said the traffic bottlenecks in Ramadan are a normal phenomenon due to the increase in the number of tourists and visitors from other regions in the Kingdom. He said: “Jeddah is also the gateway to the Two Holy Mosques, to which people come from outside to perform Umrah during Ramadan. “So it is not strange to see the city bustling with visitors, tourists and cars this time every year." Al-Harbe, who lives on Hira Street, said outside of Ramadan he would reach his office on Palestine Street in 25 minutes. "Now it takes me over 45 minutes," he said. He asked the traffic police to organize the traffic instead of just standing idle. Mustapha Khoja said in addition to the large crowds of people, the traffic movement has been further worsened by the numerous speed humps, detours and construction work on flyovers and bridges along the main streets. Khaled Al-Malki, a regular visitor to the city, said the traffic congestion in Jeddah usually begins in mid-Ramadan but this year it started on the fasting month's very first day. He also said the congestion would usually start after the Isha and Taraweeh (late evening) prayers, but this year it has started immediately after Iftar. Lt. Col. Zayed Al-Hamzi, Traffic Police spokesman, admitted there was an overcrowding of people and cars in Jeddah but said his department was trying to be present in every street since the beginning of the holy month. He said a large number of traffic police officers and privates have been deployed all over the city to end the bottlenecks and organize traffic.
