JEDDAH, 2 March 2008 — A contract worth SR114 million has been signed by the Jeddah Municipality with the Saudi Binladin Group to construct an 800-meter underpass beneath the famous Tariq ibn Ziad (Ships) Roundabout on Al-Andalus Street.

The underpass — which would cut the road from north to south — will be completed in 24 months, Ahmad Banafa, general supervisor for municipality projects, told reporters yesterday.

Banafa said that the first phase of the project includes testing the soil and structure of the roundabout to determine whether it would be able to withstand construction.

The second phase, he said, consists of coordinating with concerned authorities to bring necessary facilities — electricity, telephone lines and water drainage pipes — to the site to begin work.

He added that two of the larger ships would be moved until the project is completed, adding that they would be restored after 24 months.

The project is one of many that are currently being devised to ease traffic bottlenecks across the city. “The municipality has allocated over SR750 million for the ongoing flyover and underpass projects. This budget is expected to be raised to SR1 billion this year,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ibrahim Kutubkhanah, deputy mayor for construction and projects, provided details of a new project to develop and beautify a number of streets in the city.

Kutubkhanah said that the municipality has identified 100 important streets — according to traffic, commercial and social criteria — which will undergo urban planning and development.

The development includes constructing pedestrian sidewalks, creating facilities for people with special needs, providing public chairs, beautifying streets and roads through greenery and establishing parking spaces.

“Pedestrians would receive the first priority,” Kutubkhanah said, adding that the project took three months to study and is now on the implementation stage.