Now a number of engineers are calling the lack of drainage of these recently constructed underpasses — which dip below ground level with the potential to become murky death traps in the event of flooding — a symbol of the absence of strict oversight by municipal officials.

In a report in Al-Madinah newspaper Thursday, these engineers say municipal authorities should have done more to ensure these major road projects were built to handle the rare but formidable wintertime deluges that occur in the region.

The recent downpours experienced in Jeddah were not as strong as the Nov. 25, 2009 floods, but they succeeded in forcing the municipality to shut down four major underpasses, including King Abdullah Tunnel that passes under Khaled bin Waleed Street and Madinah Road. It took days for workers to pump out and haul away the water.

Engineer Mustafa Ali said the municipality must correct the mistakes made in these projects. “The municipality did not consider various aspects like the climate and the situation arising out of heavy downpours,” he said. “The drainage projects implemented at these new tunnels are very inadequate.”

Mustafa Shatta, another engineering consultant, said the municipality should also take into consideration what has been built on the wadis, the natural flood paths of rainwater from the higher altitudes east of the city to the Red Sea.

“The closure of flood passages at residential areas has obstructed the flow of rainwater to the sea,” he said. “The municipality should map out appropriate mechanisms for the passage of rainwater from the eastern parts of the city into the sea.” He also suggested infrastructure for harvesting this water, such as storage reservoirs, to use for irrigation purposes in this typically arid region.

Suleiman Qodaih, a specialist in soil and architecture, said that construction of tunnels in Jeddah was not accompanied by implementation of a proper rainwater drainage system.  “Naturally, this results in the formation of huge pools of stagnant water and several other related problems. The municipality awards such projects with clear and specific terms and conditions to implement adequate drainage networks. However, the contractors implemented the projects without carrying out proper drainage systems.”

Qodaih said the municipality had been notified of concerns that there was no drainage facility for the King Abdullah Tunnel, but those concerns were ignored.  “All other tunnels in the city are also facing similar problems. The municipality should take urgent measures to rectify the faults,” he said.

Jeddah Mayor Hani Abu Raas said that a contract to reduce the ground water level from the eastern direction of King Abdullah Tunnel would be awarded within a few days. The mayor recently announced awarding of a similar drainage contract at the underpass at the intersection of Prince Majed Street with Heraa Street. He said the underpass at the intersection of Prince Majed Street with Al-Rowda Street was not flooded as reported by the media.