“All preparations have been made to ease congestion in the city in view of the expected heavy traffic. The special traffic plan will be implemented from the first day of Eid and continue until the end of the holidays,” Director of Jeddah traffic police Brig. Muhammad Al-Qahtani told Arab News on Sunday.
Patrols will be dispatched at all Eid prayer grounds and mosques in the city to eliminate likely traffic bottlenecks there. If required, a one-way system will be introduced in locations close to prayer grounds, Al-Qahtani said.
He also urged members of the public not to park their cars near entrances to prayer grounds and other places likely to exacerbate traffic congestion.
“We appeal to the public to park their cars only at designated places,” he said.
Traffic control will be in place in crowded areas such as the Corniche and other festival areas day and night, he added.
“On the second day of Eid, the festival in Obhur will start at the North Sharam area and traffic on the King Abdul Aziz Road will be heavy,” he said.
“So drivers should take Madinah Road to the north and to the Obhur Kubri (bridge) and then proceed to the festival location. Signboards will be installed to guide drivers,” he said.
He also requested people not park on sidewalks. People are also likely to experience heavy traffic at many locations because of new road and infrastructure works currently underway in the city.
However, a sufficient number of police patrols will be sent such areas, he said.
He added that the duration of signals would be changed to suit the rush at some intersections during the holidays. He also called on drivers to exercise self-control and not violate traffic regulations in congested roads.
