Jeddah Mayor Hani Muhammad Abu Ras said Tuesday that no delays in implementing the city's seafront project will be allowed. “The seafront is earmarked for the service of citizens and there cannot be any leniency in this regard,” he said while inspecting the project. Abu Ras discussed the work progress with officials from the mayor's office and the contractor's technical team. The contractor and the mayor's office are committed to their promise to Jeddah residents that the project will be completed on time, Abu Ras said. Officials have coordinated with the contracting company to intensify its work, said Dr. Bahjat Hamwa, Director General for Municipal Facilities at Jeddah Mayoralty. The company, which has more than 1,000 engineers and workers assigned to the project, will soon add a third shift so that the work will be done around the clock, he said. In April this year, contracts were signed for the second phase of developing the Corniche and seafront at a cost of SR45 million with a contract period of 14 months, and a third phase for SR94 million with a contract period of 18 months. Dr. Hamwa said that the work in the project started with removing buildings, pavements and electricity poles from the site. Also alternative routes were opened as the old road was closed. Monuments and sculptures dotting the seafront were moved to storages and they will be relocated after the work is finished. Kiosks at the seafront were removed and will be placed back after the project is complete, he said. The project includes constructing five swimming zones, zones for fishing, a 13-km-long footpath, 88 toilets for men and women, a parking lot with a capacity to accommodate 5,000 cars including spots for those with special needs and ones for public transportation. There are provisions for amusement parks, sand beaches, green spaces, restaurants and coffee shops. __
