JEDDAH: A flyover at the intersection of Hera Street and Makrona Street was opened on Thursday for vehicles. The new bridge, constructed at a cost of SR18 million, was one of the several projects implemented by Jeddah Municipality to ensure smooth flow of traffic.
Saeed Bafuhaid, director of the department for bridges and tunnels at the municipality, said the new two-way bridge has three tracks each on both sides. “The main objective of the project is to reduce traffic bottlenecks on Jeddah roads,” he said.
Bafuhaid said his office had coordinated with the traffic department in order to open the intersection below the bridge on Jan. 11 as well as before opening the bridge in order to know whether they have any observations. Work on the bridge was completed on Oct. 14.
“While carrying out new projects we have tried our best not to close any roads and not to obstruct traffic,” the official said. “The company that is entrusted with the task of implementing the projects has taken all precautions to avoid traffic bottlenecks.” Large trucks transported the materials required for the projects after midnight, he said, adding that the company also coordinated with the traffic department to ensure smooth flow of vehicles, by constructing bypass roads and placing proper indicators.
“Before building the new bridges and underpasses the municipality had consulted with the related government departments to take their views into consideration in preparing final designs,” Bafuhaid said. He said the municipality had used the same designs for constructing new bridges and underpasses at different intersections of Jeddah, making slight changes, in order to save time and money. He added the municipality had made use of the expertise of international consultancy firms. Hussein Baoqail, chairman of Jeddah Municipal Council, who attended the opening ceremony, commended the municipality’s efforts to ease traffic bottlenecks in different parts of the city.
