Muhammad Abdul Mohsen Al-Qinawi of the Umm Al-Qura Company for Construction and Development said once work is completed, motorists would be able to travel close to the Grand Mosque with ease at any time, especially during peak hours.
“The road, which runs from Jeddah to Makkah’s entrance, will make entry and exit to and from the Grand Mosque very easy,” he told Arab News.
The project is due to be completed in 2012.
Al-Qinawi said more than 1,175 real estate units will be purchased for the project and their owners compensated.
“This will have no effect on the accommodation of pilgrims and visitors as the project is away from the central area of the Grand Mosque,” he added.
He said the project would improve the local road network and services to match international standards.
“The project will restructure traffic movement and the process of development in Makkah and will take into consideration the constant increase in the number of pilgrims and visitors as well as their future needs,” he explained.
Al-Qinawi said shares of the company, which was established under a royal decree, would be offered to the public after administrative procedures have been completed. “The company will cover just under a third of the project’s costs while other developers will cover the rest,” he said.
He said the purchase of properties for the project started early this year and would be completed early next year.
“Efforts will be jointly made with the Makkah municipality to accommodate citizens whose properties were confiscated until they are financially compensated,” he added.
“The project, which covers 1.2 million square meters, represents a third of development projects and basic infrastructure schemes in Makkah,” he said, adding that the company was given an area of 3.5 million square meters in the holy city to develop.
Al-Qinawi said the 60-meter-wide road would incorporate the Haramain rail tracks.
