Now it is likely to take place on Sunday.

Mayor of Jeddah Adel Fakieh was expected to officiate in the event to mark the opening. The new underpass is situated at one of Jeddah’s busiest junctions and is expected to ease the flow of traffic.

“I was hoping to drive through the tunnel today. The delay isn’t a surprise for me. This project has been in the making for a long time and there have been tremendous delays,” said Salem Omar, a 36-year-old motorist.

“I hope the tunnel has a drainage system in case of heavy rains like the ones we saw last year,” he added.

Other Jeddah residents also hoped for a similar project along other parts of King Fahd Road, especially at the Al-Falak Roundabout, which is another traffic hotspot.

The new underpass is 470 meters long and 29 meters wide, and has three lanes in both directions.