The SR98.5 million new underpass at King Fahd Street (Sitteen Street) and Prince Muhammad Bin Abdul Aziz Street (Tahlia Street) intersection was formally inaugurated here Sunday. The new underpass, situated at one of Jeddah's busiest junctions, is expected to ease the flow of traffic. It was earlier scheduled to be opened on Thursday but was delayed because of the indisposition of Mayor Adel Fakeih. Inaugurating the 470 meters long and 29 meters wide underpass which has three lanes in both the directions, Mayor Fakeih hoped that several new projects undertaken by the mayoralty would considerably ease the flow of traffic in the city. Mayor Fakeih said that the construction of the underpass was only possible because of the cooperation of Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah Region, ministries of Finance and Transport and Jeddah traffic department. King Fahd Street connects Seaport Bridge on Jeddah Expressway in the south and then runs north to connect with the airport highway. Its 6-km long bridge is connected to a tunnel below King Abdullah Street running east to west. Passing over Palestine Street it crosses Gharnata Street. Under the new project, a 770-meter long bridge has been built at the intersection with Gharnata Street. This bridge has six tracks, three on each way. It is connected with a 450-meter long tunnel having three tracks each way. The total expenditure involved in construction of this bridge and tunnel is SR98.441 million said Mayor Fakeih. The tunnel has a outlet for rainwater through pipes and big dynamos. The construction of both the bridge and tunnel was done in 42 months, Fakeih said.
