Saudi Arabia, Canada hold first political consultations in Ottawa    Saudi Gazette publishes full text of new foreign property ownership law The law grants non-Saudis broader real estate rights under defined conditions while imposing restrictions in Makkah and Madinah    Saudi anti-graft authority investigates 425 employees, detains 142 in July corruption cases    US envoy Witkoff visits Gaza aid distribution site as starvation crisis deepens    Saudi Arabia's real GDP grows 3.9% in Q2 2025 on broad-based economic expansion    New Murabba, Alat sign MoU to develop next-gen vertical transport for The Mukaab    Over 1.2 million Umrah pilgrims arrive in Saudi Arabia since Dhul Hijjah 15    Iran drives out 1.5 million Afghans, with some branded spies for Israel    Kyiv toll rises to 26 after wave of Russian strikes defies Trump ceasefire demand    Young Ukrainians get their way as Zelensky overturns law to defuse crisis    Sotheby's returns Buddha jewels to India after uproar    Riyadh Film Music Festival returns with live orchestral performances of iconic movie scores    Nissan Formula E Team celebrates a landmark season 11 with proud Saudi sponsor Electromin    Qiwa sets 60-day window before reporting worker as absent under new contract rules    Saudi, Russian energy ministers discuss oil market and joint committee plans    Fahad bin Nafel steps down as Al Hilal president after historic six-year run    João Félix unveiled by Al Nassr as €50m move marks bold new chapter in Riyadh    Saudi Arabia approves first Alzheimer's treatment with lecanemab for early-stage patients    Chris Tucker, Pete Davidson and Aziz Ansari among stars set for Riyadh Comedy Festival    Al Nassr beat Benfica to €50m João Félix signing after Ronaldo, Jesus intervene    Sholay: Bollywood epic roars back to big screen after 50 years with new ending    Ministry launches online booking for slaughterhouses on eve of Eid Al-Adha    Shah Rukh Khan makes Met Gala debut in Sabyasachi    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Al-Hada Road reopening ends 3 years of suffering
By Mohammad Murad
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 12 - 06 - 2009

The reopening of the dual carriageway all-lit Al-Hada (Al-Kur) Road connecting Taif with Makkah, has put smiles back on the faces of those who frequently travel between the two cities, either for educational or business purposes.
The road, closed for reconstruction and expansion for almost 29,000 hours over a period of three years, was opened for the public on June 6 by Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of the Makkah Region.
Mohammad Abulmajd, a laborer in the Bin Laden Company which carried out the SR218 million road construction and expansion project, was more than happy to get overtime for the extra hours he put in given the urgency attached to the completion of the project. “During the last two months, we were paid overtime for the extra work we did. We did our best to complete the project in the stipulated time.”
The company personnel, he added, will still monitor the road for about a year and do repair work as and when required.
“We carried out some controlled explosions on the mountain side of the road and did some expansion work through the nearby mountains. We put steel three meters deep inside the mountains on either side of the road. Now we can give an assurance that no rock or stone can fall down during the rainy season,” he said.
Abdulaziz Aboud, a driver who frequently travels between Makkah and Taif, was ecstatic about the opening of the road. On Saturday, he saw cars waiting for the road to be declared open. He also waited long hours and was one of the first to drive on the new road. “It is fantastic and it's so smooth,” he observed.
Abdullah Al-Tuweijiri, a retired employee, said he wanted to be among the first to travel on the road. “I waited for my sons to take me down to see the road, but they refused because there was a football match on television on the day of the opening. I decided to drive on my own and took my daughters along. I moved very slowly because I have some problem in my eyes. I went down and did not encounter any difficulty. Then I decided to go to Makkah and buy my favorite meal, Kubaiba. After that I came back slowly. The drive was really beautiful,” he said.
Abdul Hadi Al-Khaldi, an employee, said, “I do not know why the people go down the zig-zag road without any business. I went down with my friends and I noticed that there are still some dangerous curves. Young men, especially, should be cautious when driving here.”
Over 15,000 concrete barriers have been erected on either side and in the middle of the road in order to prevent road accidents. Roadside parking space for emergency situations has also been provided.
Dr. Jabarah Bin Eid Al-Suraisiri, Minister of Transport, said the final stage of the project is 12-km long and was executed at a total cost of SR218 million.
The Taif-Jeddah escarpment road is a marvel of engineering. Breathtaking and majestic, the road rises 6,500 feet in 21 km and 93 bends.
Adel Al-Terkistani, a master sergeant in one of Taif's military hospitals, said, “I think they expanded this road for me and other employees who come from Makkah to work in Taif and return home daily. I used to come to Taif through Al-Sail road which is always full of trucks. Besides it is longer than Al-Hada.”
Al-Terkistani said he noticed some dangerous curves at the beginning of the road. Drivers, he said, need to concentrate and to drive slowly. “I drove from Al-Hada down to the bottom in 12 minutes, but from Al-Hada to my home in Al-Hijra street in Makkah took me 40 minutes which is more than I expected but better than an hour and a half to go through Al-Sail Road.”
Another good thing about the road is that it is completely illuminated, he said. “I like the lights very much; it helps a lot in driving to have the road well lit.”
When Al-Hada road was closed, all restaurants, gas stations, hotels, furnished apartments and even small groceries suffered economically and some of them even closed for lack of business. Now, the situation is different – most of the resorts, hotels and other facilities are redecorating and getting ready to start business afresh.
Kahled Al-Basha, the owner of a restaurant in Al-Hada area, said, “With the opening of the road, we have a new life. We are very happy now. We really suffered during the last three years.”


Clic here to read the story from its source.