MADINAH: The Madinah Municipality has decided to reconstruct the historic railway bridge near the Islamic University in Wadi Al-Aqiq neighborhood in Madinah.
“The General Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (GCTA) is collaborating with the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs in the reconstruction of the bridge as part of the GCTA program to renovate and preserve historical sites in the Kingdom,” said Ali Al-Ghaban, deputy secretary- general of the GCTA, yesterday.
The Madinah Municipality demolished the historic Hijaz Railway Bridge in 2005 because it had suffered structural damage during heavy flooding the previous year.
Commenting on the municipality’s decision to reconstruct the old bridge, GCTA’s Secretary-General Prince Sultan bin Salman said the move signified the increasing awareness in the country about the need to preserve antiquities and architectural heritages.
Al-Ghaban said Prince Sultan bin Salman also appreciated the special interest shown by Madinah Gov. Prince Abdul Aziz bin Majed in the reconstruction of the bridge.
The prince also expressed satisfaction over the efforts made by various local governments and government departments in the renovation and restoration of old buildings and sites of cultural significance particularly the mayor’s office in Asir and an ancient fort in Namas.
The Wadi Aqiq bridge was part of the Hijaz Railway completed in 1908 by Ottomans with the aim of providing easy access to Muslim pilgrims in the Middle East and Near East to Makkah and Madinah.
The demolition of the bridge had outraged the Madinah residents and historians though it was seriously damaged even before that.
The residents protested the municipality’s unimaginative act saying that it should have attempted to preserve the landmark rather than leveling it.
