The repair work on the Dammam-Khobar tunnel, meant to be completed by the end of this year, will cost SR48.6 million, just for repairs and waterproofing. There have been daily traffic problems in Dammam ever since the tunnel was closed for repairs in December last year. The closure has elicited harsh criticism from motorists who travel regularly to Dammam, the seat of the Eastern Province governorate, government ministries and facilities. Although authorities have promised that the tunnel will be reopened by the end of this year, the contractor said that at present only 78 percent of the repair work has been done. Engineer Ali Al-Garni, Dammam municipality project engineer, said several factors have led to a delay in the repair work. He said the selection of a sub-contractor to carry out ground segregation and the lack of insulation material in the local markets, which had to be imported from abroad, were the two major reasons for the delay. He said the removal of concrete and the use of heavy equipment and heavy breakers that may affect the foundation and structures of the buildings adjacent to the tunnel were also considered in the repair project. In addition, working hours were timed to the period when the ground water level is low in order to protect nearby infrastructure. It also took two months for the contractor to actually start the repairs after the repair job was awarded. Al-Garni said the repaired tunnel has been completely overhauled, including testing and analysis studies. Although the tunnel is scheduled to be opened for traffic by the end of this year, the contractor said that there are several jobs still to be completed. These include regular completion of concrete pouring, injection of expansion joints, construction of joints in each of the concrete base and retaining walls, application of waterproofing on the retaining walls with special paint material for insulation and protection, and the pouring of reinforced concrete slabs. Will the tunnel really be reopened by the end of this year? “It is our hope and expectation,” said Al
