20,000 damaged Jeddah sidewalks to undergo repairs

Sami Nawar, a spokesman for the Jeddah Mayoralty, has said that his department is planning to fix more than 20,000 damaged or deformed sidewalks in Jeddah.
More than 50 percent of Jeddah’s sidewalks are either damaged or chipped due to old construction, traffic and heavy trucks. Some are almost at street level, making it easier to commit traffic violations.
“The project will cost around SR25 million, and we expect the work to be completed by the end of this year. Most of these sidewalks are found within old residential neighborhoods and surrounding streets. It’s not easy to pinpoint exact defects since these are sometimes hidden. We appeal to the public to report any damage or deformities in these sidewalks,” he said.
Lt. Col. Zaid Al-Hamzi, a spokesman for the Jeddah Traffic Department, said that many drivers make u-turns around damaged sidewalks. “If caught, such a violation can incur a fine of SR500,” he said.
Many people say that the problem of damaged sidewalks is exacerbated by the floods that hit the city a couple of years ago.
Khalid Abu Jaba’, a resident of Bani Malik, said: “You can see them in almost every street. We have been calling authorities to no avail. I hope that matters will improve with this new development.”
Muhammad Khalil, a resident in the Marwah 3 neighborhood, says these damaged sidewalks were actually a serious safety hazard. “The other day, a neighborhood resident tried to drive through an opening in the sidewalk. He was talking on his cell phone when another car crashed into his. It was a very bad accident. I hope they fix these pavements fast,” he said.