MAKKAH, 17 September 2007 — A major flyover in the Aziziyah district of Makkah was closed yesterday evening and traffic diverted after it developed large cracks, which were thought to have been caused by a construction company working under it on the King Khaled Road Project.
The Thalatheen Flyover, which connects Makkah to the Taif Expressway, has developed cracks that are 150 cm deep, 10 meters long and 10 cm wide.
The company that was carrying out the work was apparently setting up some support pillars, on a road below as part of the King Khaled Road Project, which is aimed at connecting the city’s Second Ring Road to the Aziziyah district, located in the south of the holy city.
First reports about the cracks came at around 4 p.m. A traffic police unit discovered the cracks and reported the flyover unsafe to the city’s authorities.
Civil Defense teams and traffic police closed the bridge at around 9 p.m. after Isha prayers when the cracks were observed to have grown worse. Traffic was diverted so that the construction company could repair the bridge and make it safe.
The Makkah municipality has also deployed a team of engineers to examine the bridge. Col. Ahmed Nashi, head of Makkah’s Traffic Department, said his department received reports about the cracks and contacted the official bodies in Makkah.
Traffic officials will remain at the location to facilitate the movement of traffic away from the bridge. The flyover remained closed at midnight yesterday.
