Work began Thursday to demolish the 30-year-old Al-Mu'aiseem Bridge to make way for the fourth beltway that would ease traffic in the holy city during peak seasons.

The removal of the bridge would also see contractors complete the intersection between Taif Road and the Grand Mosque. The contractor, in cooperation with Makkah Traffic Department, set up several detours so that workers could raze the structure.

A committee will determine the value of over 400 properties that will be expropriated. Osama Al-Bar, the mayor of Makkah, told Arab News that the design of the beltway would ensure traffic inside the city is separated from cars moving on its outskirts.

He said the capacity of the roads inside the city has been increased. "We increased traffic safety, cut down on air pollution, and developed the urban and semi-urban areas of the city. We're helping to expand the city and alleviate the pressure on crowded areas."

He said that work has started on the western side of the fourth beltway, which begins at the intersection of Jeddah highway with Al-Laith and Al-Akkashkiyyah, to the intersection of Thawr Mountain, which is connected to King Faisal Bridge leading to the holy areas.

“The road involves seven large intersections that start from the intersection of the Makkah-Jeddah highway. It flows in the form of a closed loop around Makkah, which brings it back again to its starting point. In designing the new road, we took into consideration the expected traffic volumes for the next 20 years, especially during Haj and Ramadan,” he said.

He said the entire project would cost more than SR3 billion.