JEDDAH, 24 June 2007 — Riyadh Gov. Prince Salman yesterday signed a contract worth SR698 million with Saudi Oger to implement the first phase of a project for the development of King Abdullah Road in the capital.
“The project is aimed at expanding this main road in the capital city to accommodate a large number of vehicles,” said Abdullatif Al-Asheikh, head of the project and planning center at Riyadh Development Authority.
The project includes construction of three lines in the main road apart from service roads.
A 10-meter line will be left in the center for establishing railway tracks in the future for operating electric trains. “It also includes three tunnels, each with a length of 185 meters and a closed tunnel with a length of 700 meters as well as construction of networks of public utility facilities such as water, electricity, sewage and rain water drainage,” he said.
Al-Asheikh said the project would also consider the requirements of pedestrians and shoppers in the area.
Trees will be planted along the road to reduce environment pollution caused by carbon dioxide emission from vehicles.
In a related development, Transport Minister Dr. Jabara Al-Seraisry signed three agreements to develop infrastructure facilities for the railway line between Riyadh and Dammam at a total cost of SR147.8 million, the Saudi Press Agency said. The first contract is for the construction of a two-way railway line at King Abdul Aziz Port in Dammam at a cost of SR67 million.
The second contract valued at SR65.89 million is for the improvement of Dammam-Hufouf railway and construction of a four-kilometer new track, the agency reported.
The SR15 million third contract was for further improvement of the curve between Hufouf and Dammam.
“The new contracts were signed as part of the Saudi Railway Organization’s efforts to strengthen its efficiency in order to meet the growing demand for transport of passengers and goods,” said Abdurabb Al-Amir Al-Saniy, director of contracts at the organization.