The committee in charge of land acquisition for the project has started its work in Jeddah’s Suleimaniya district, said Abdullah Faisal Al-Saqr, a member of the committee. He added that the committee’s work would be completed in 45 days.
The committee will also evaluate properties in Quwaiza, and others close to the Tahlia bridge and Haj Terminal bridge. It will also hold two meetings to discuss the details of real estate that is to be acquired and their value to compensate owners.
Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, manager of the media center at the Jeddah municipality, said his organization and officials in charge of the railway project are working together excellently.
“We made a proposal to change the route of the railway to avoid any negative effects, including possibly changing all intersections along the Haramain Expressway,” he said.
He added that the consultants for the project had said the railway line would go through the middle of the Haramain Expressway and take 17 meters. “This would require a track and a half from both sides of the road and the reconstruction of eight bridges which would be increased in height to stand eight meters tall,” he added.
The eight bridges are located near the Haj Terminal, King Abdullah Airbase, Nuzha Street, Briman, Prince Muhammad (Tahlia) Street, and Palestine Street.
He said that traffic on the Haramain Road would be affected. He added the Traffic Department will be asked to study the railway plan and identify any potential safety issues.
“The Traffic Department needs to advise us on diversions at the places where construction is to take place; it also needs to review the plan to remove bridges and crossings,” he said.
He emphasized the need to carry out the projects in phases without affecting the flow of traffic, adding that bridges along the road are important as they connect the eastern and western parts of Jeddah to each other.
The committee has already begun procedures to purchase 30 real estate properties in Suleimaniya. Owners have already been consulted and documents prepared. The value of the land is being calculated according to current market value. There are 28 real estate properties to be acquired near the airbase bridge, 45 at Tahlia Bridge and 220 at Briman.
