Jeddah to beat congestion with 90 roading projects

Jeddah's traffic issues are being addressed with 90 projects designed to ease congestion. File photo, Getty.

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Jeddah’s plans to ease urban traffic took another step forward yesterday with the opening of a bridge, the ninth roading project to be completed in 12 months in the city.

The project is part of the city's plans to ease congestion problems and it was constructed in three levels, with an 800m long and 15m wide overpass on Hira street, a ground level junction, and an underpass on Prince Majed Road.

Jeddah’s traffic plan includes bridges on 90 intersections in the city, with work on 30 already started. Officials plan to announce the next three roading projects over the next few months.

The city also has plans to develop areas east of the Al Haramain Expressway, the main highway that skirts the Jeddah’s eastern boundary and is one of the most direct routes to Makkah from the port city. Plans for the development will be released in three months, officials said.

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Other projects in the pipeline include the third phase of the refurbishment of Jazan Road, which will include converting the existing road to a highway. The length of the refurbishment is 80 kilometres. Saudi Pan Kingdom for Trading Industry & Construction Co. was awarded the US$75 million main contract in June 2010.

Saudi Arabia is currently home to some of the biggest transport projects in the region. This includes the high-speed Haramain Rail Project, rail link project will connect Makkah and Madina via Jeddah. The railway will be a 360 km/h electrified passenger double line between Makkah, Jeddah and Madina.

The design, construction, operation, maintenance of HHR shall be executed in two phases. The project is now into its second phase and Saudi Railways Organisation were still tendering for bids for the stations package and the rolling stock in July.