JEDDAH, 1 April 2008 — Responding to a wave of complaints about trees that block traffic signs the municipality has kicked off a citywide pruning effort.
“Municipality officials will cut the trees blocking traffic signs especially in road turns and parking areas,” said Bahjat Hamwah, head of the greenery department of the Jeddah Municipality, adding that the project would be completed in four months.
Hamwah said that the new initiative came after a slew of complaints by people claiming that blocked signs led to traffic violations for which they were fined. He added that the project includes pruning trees that lean over electrical lines.
Hamwah said that his department has planted more than a million saplings along Jeddah’s main streets and roundabouts. “Currently, municipality officials have finished planting and adding greenery at King Fahd Street from the Bicycle to Al-Falak roundabouts,” he said.
He said greenery projects would also reach side streets and interior districts. “All main and side streets would be planted within the next two years,” he said.
Meanwhile, Hamwah said that his department has completed a survey of the needs of existing parks in the city. He said that the first phase of a project to improve Jeddah’s parks includes developing and maintaining existing parks by adding more seats, umbrella-like shades, bins, fences and playgrounds for children.
“The number of parks in Jeddah is set to increase within this year from the current 134 to 290,” he said.
