The municipality’s information center said 24 teams, two from each municipal area, started the asphalting work and were expected to complete the job in two weeks.
“The rains and floods caused a number of bumps and potholes in many streets. These were caused by improper laying of these roads by contracting companies,” a spokesman from the center said.
It said all faulty roads and streets had been photographed as part of a technical report prepared by the municipality.
According to the center, the roads in need of repair include 24 in Briman municipality, 14 in Aziziyah district, seven in Um Al-Salam, eight in New Jeddah municipality, 15 in south Jeddah, 100 in Al-Jamiah and 36 in the airport municipality.
The center noted that many streets were badly damaged and added that the repair teams might consist of five men each, rather than two as originally planned. It said each municipal area would decide which roads to begin with.
According to the center, among the roads to be repaired first in Aziziyah municipal block are Palestine, Tahlia, Makarona and Prince Majed roads, while those in the airport area include Sari and Quraish roads. The center said there were four roads in the Dhahban municipality area, including those around the northern part of King Abdul Aziz International Airport and the road leading to Durrat Al-Arous resort.
Meanwhile, Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal said emergency projects to drain water would start right away in Jeddah.
Addressing a press conference in Jeddah on Sunday, he said properties lying in flood paths would be acquired and owners compensated instantly. The prince said Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has been deeply worried about the situation in the city and had asked him what had been done to lessen the sufferings of the people. Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, had also been in contact, the prince added.
In line with the instructions of Second Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Prince Naif in two meetings last week, Prince Khaled said emergency rehabilitation projects would start in the Umm Al-Khair and Samer districts, which was hit the hardest.
“The executive committee to deal with the flood calamity that began on Sunday will continue meeting until Wednesday in order to appoint the consultancy firms to undertake studies to find long and short term solutions and also to choose international companies to execute projects as early as possible,” the prince said.
The prince added that the Jeddah municipality would work with an international company to undertake repairs of roads, pavements and street lighting.
Another step to be taken by the committee to counter future calamities is to divide the city into small zones. Each one would be manned by Civil Defense, municipality, and police officers capable of countering any flood or rain catastrophe, he said.
“Work on the five flood dams, contracts for which were awarded on an earlier occasion, has started and will be completed as scheduled,” the prince said.
“While our desire is to implement short-term emergency projects in a few months, long-term projects will be announced later. We will keep people informed of our findings and decisions about the implementation of projects periodically.”
With regard to the demand of Umm Al-Khair residents that they should be not evicted from the neighborhood, the prince said their properties would be protected.
He added that contracts would be awarded to more than one company so that work is carried out simultaneously and without subcontractors.
