Contract for Jeddah transport plan inked

The Jeddah municipality has signed a contract with a leading international consulting company to prepare a comprehensive transport plan for the city and its neighboring regions. The world-class plan aims at finding long-term solutions to transport problems facing the region and facilitating smooth traffic movement by applying highly advanced technology and successful international experiments, according to sources at the municipality’s media center. The company will conduct an extensive study and research on transport challenges and deliver solutions for current and future problems until 2030. The studies will be prepared after taking into account the increasing requirements as a result of the growing population and massive expansion of the city, a local Arabic daily reported on Saturday. The municipality has already started implementing several vital projects, including intersections, overpasses and underpasses and tunnels aimed at easing traffic congestion in the city. Work on a number of projects worth SR528.14 million have already been completed. The municipality started some projects aimed at easing traffic congestion on major roads such as King Abdul Aziz Road, King Fahd Road, Prince Majed Street, Palestine Street and Prince Muhammad Street. The municipality in coordination with the Ministry of Transport has implemented a number of intersections and arterial roads facilitating traffic movement to King Abdulaziz International Airport. The sources said studies have been completed with regard to the removal of the Peninsula Shield Square and Al-Zahra Square, two of the city’s landmarks. The studies were conducted by the traffic committee formed following a directive from Crown Prince Naif, deputy premier and minister of interior. Meanwhile, the general department for bridges and tunnels at the municipality said a number of projects worth over half a billion riyals have already been completed and opened for the public. These included five intersections linking Prince Majed Street with Al-Rawda Street, Sheikh Ibn Baz Street, Bakhashab Street, Sari Street and Palestine Street, in addition to the intersection at King Abdul Aziz Road and King Abdullah Road. Jeddah Mayor Hani Abu Ras recently signed a contract worth SR87.88 million to construct an underpass at the Falak (Globe) Square that intersects King Fahd Road with Sari Street.