Contract Awarded to Fill North Jeddah Flood Drain

JEDDAH, 15 April 2007 — Mayor of Jeddah Adel Fakieh yesterday signed a SR320 million contract at his office to cover the northern flood drain that runs parallel to the Prince Muhammad ibn Abdulaziz Street, formerly known as Tahlia Street.

The 250,000-square meter drain will be covered and children’s playgrounds, pedestrian paths and green areas are being planned. “This project is the outcome of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah’s support to the city and is part of a series of programs to combat dengue fever,” said Fakieh.

He added that the contract, which is one of the city’s most important projects, should be completed within 18 months.

The mayor said that the project would play a great role in draining water that has a tendency to gather in the Bani Malik Valley, which is located in the eastern part of the city. “By draining this big source of water, we are eliminating the natural breeding grounds of mosquitoes that cause the dengue fever,” he added.

The project is to be carried out in three phases. The first will begin from the western side of Madinah Road down to Prince Sultan Street; the second phase will begin from the eastern side of Madinah Road to Al-Haramain Road; and the third phase will begin from Al-Haramain Road to the beginning of the path at Mashoub Dam.

The Alwan Construction Company is handling the project jointly with the Turkish-based STFA Company. Sub-contracts will also be offered to local companies. The project was designed by a British consultancy company, which also designed Jeddah’s new water drainage system.

The municipality has allocated SR70 million to address Jeddah’s infamous flooding problem during those rare times when the city is struck with heavy rains.

The municipality has embarked on several beautification projects around the city as part of a grander scheme to salvage the historic center’s crumbling charms and get the area on the UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites.

Unveiling this year’s municipal budget, the biggest in the city’s history, Fakieh said in February that Jeddah “will witness a noticeable improvement in the level of cleanness, servicing and general facilities before the end of this year.”