The scheduled 2010 completion of 22 construction projects will render Jeddah's crippling traffic congestion a thing of the past, according to Mayor Adel Faqih. Faqih told Saudi Gazette Thursday that once the works worth some SR2 billion were finished, Jeddah would “have no traffic problems whatsoever”, and elaborated on the extent of the massive infrastructure overhaul, citing new bridges, tunnels, intersection underpasses as well as sizable expansions to existing thoroughfares. The works, according to Mayor Faqih, include five overpasses on Prince Majed Street at intersections with Rowdah Street, Muhammad Bin Abdul Aziz Road, Palestine Street and Abdullah Suleyman Street and a six-lane overpass at the Gharanatah Street junction. Prince Majed Street, he said, will also boast five underpasses at its junctions with Hera Street, Rowdah, Muhammad Bin Abdul Aziz Street, Palestine Street and Abdullah Bin Suleyman Street. The Mayor also noted that the Jeddah Municipality and King Abdulaziz University engineers were close to completing a further 35 projects costing SR3 billion, and went on to describe other construction works either under way or planned. These include, the Mayor said, overpasses at the intersections of Muhammad Bin Abdul Aziz Street and Umm-Al-Qura Road; Old Makkah Road and Al-Eskan Road; Makrona and Hera streets, and the intersection of Sari Street with Prince Sultan Street. The latter overpass is scheduled to be open by October this year. The junction at King Abdullah Street and King Abdul Aziz Street will also see a new underpass, while King Fahd Road currently has four bridges and one tunnel under construction. Faqih said that a further overpass at the intersection of Qureysh Street with King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz Street was being built at a cost of SR18 million. “Once these projects are completed, Jeddah will be able to boast of being one of the most modern cities in the world,” Mayor Faqih said.
