Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Friday, Mar 29, 2024

Traffic snarls choke Jeddah despite new tunnels and flyovers

Traffic snarls choke Jeddah despite new tunnels and flyovers

Even after the implementation of several multimillion road projects, including underpasses and overpasses, the main arteries and streets of Jeddah city are still suffocating with heavy traffic congestion. Jeddah’s traffic snarls are no longer limited to weekends but extended to all seven days of the week.
The traffic jams have become intense after the reopening of schools and universities two weeks ago. The demolition of slums and random neighborhoods in southern and central Jeddah has also contributed to the traffic congestion as tens of thousands of residents moved from these neighborhoods to the eastern and northern parts of the city. No road or street in Jeddah is free from traffic congestion as vehicles of all sizes and types are lined up over long distances, and the boredom of waiting is interrupted only by car horns.

Saud Al-Muwallad, a motorist, told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that Jeddah city should now carry the name the ‘City of Crowds’, as driving through the city has become an adventure and nightmare. “We spend long hours on the roads hoping to reach schools and our workplaces, and we have to wait for a long time in the midst of noise pollution,” he said.

Echoing the same view, Bandar Al-Dakhil, another resident of the city, said that Jeddah, the ‘Bride of the Red Sea,’ has turned into a city of traffic suffocation. He complained that the traffic police personnel are not visible in many places to ease the traffic jams.

Most of the roads are in a state of suffocation, and the expressway between Jeddah and Makkah has turned into a slow track with heavy traffic congestion has become routine. The new road projects have not been instrumental in facilitating the smooth flow of vehicles. Even after the recent opening of the underpass at the intersection of Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Street (Tahlia) and Madinah Road, there is no easing of the traffic jam along Tahlia as queues of vehicles extend from Haramain Expressway in east Jeddah to the Madinah Road in the west.

Similar is the case with most of the roads and streets in the eastern neighborhoods of Tayseer, Samer, and Hamdaniya, as well as Prince Majed Street (Sabeen), Palestine Street, King Fahd Road (Sitteen), Prince Miteb Street (Arbaeen), Saud Al-Faisal Road, and Corniche Road, in addition to roads reaching the entrances and exits of North Obhur.

Speaking to Okaz/Saudi Gazette, retired Maj. Gen. Misfir Al-Juaid, a security expert, confirmed that the tunnel and bridge projects did not succeed in easing the traffic jams. The movement of thousands of families from the southern and central neighborhoods of Jeddah to its northern and eastern districts has also resulted in creating endless traffic jams, he pointed out.

“I do not think that any traffic solutions may succeed in facilitating the traffic flow of vehicles. Hence I suggest changing the daily working hours for companies and government departments to 8 or 9 am and thus reduce the pressure of vehicles on the roads during peak school traffic hours,” he said while pointing out that at present residents in the eastern and northern neighborhoods suffer greatly for their daily movements.

On his part, retired Maj. Gen. Salem Al-Matrafi attributed several factors to the lingering traffic congestion in the city. These included the inadequate public bus transport system and the movement of hundreds of residents from the southern and central parts of Jeddah to the eastern and northern parts of the city. “Hence it is necessary to quickly implement the public transport network, reduce the use of private cars, prevent the movement of trucks within the city, and reduce the size of taxis with relying mostly on guided taxis,” he said, adding, “this must also be accompanied by the expansion of existing roads, construction of new roads, and the diversion of trucks and heavy equipment tracks to out of the city or allocating alternative roads for them.”
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Reports in Gaza: 5 dead from the impact of aid packages dropped by the USA
Apple warns against drying iPhones with rice
China Criticizes US for Vetoing UN Ceasefire Resolution in Gaza
In a recent High Court hearing, the U.S. argued that Julian Assange endangered lives by releasing classified information.
The U.S. vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza, instead proposing its own six-week ceasefire plan contingent upon the release of all hostages held by Hamas
Prince William Urges End to Gaza Conflict
Saudi Arabia ranks first in UN index for e-government services in MENA
Israel has gone ‘beyond self-defence’ in Gaza, says Labour’s Streeting
EU Calls for Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza Conflict
Israel Records 20% Drop In GDP, War In Gaza Is The Reason
Saudi Arabia's FDI Inflows Grow with New International Standards
Venture Capitals Power Up Across MENA Region
Saudi Arabia Introduces Terms for 30-Year Income Tax Exemption for Multinational Companies
Saudi FM: Establishing Palestinian state is only pathway for Mideast stability
Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny has died at the Arctic prison colony
Elon Musk's Starlink Gets License For Israel, Parts Of Gaza
Influencers Exploit X Platform for Profit Amidst Israel-Gaza Conflict
PM Modi Announces Opening Of New CBSE Office In Dubai
International Criminal Court's Chief "Deeply Concerned" By Rafah Bombing
January Funding for MENA Startups Totals $86.5 Million
Saudi Arabia accelerates digital economy growth through Nvidia partnership
Indian female military officers commend Saudi Arabia's progress and women's empowerment
Israel unveils tunnels underneath Gaza City headquarters of UN agency for Palestinian refugees
Israel deploys new military AI in Gaza war
Egypt threatens to suspend key peace treaty if Israel pushes into Gaza border town, officials say
Israel Utilizes AI Military Technology in Gaza Conflict
Saudi Arabia Warns Of A "Humanitarian Catastrophe" If Israel Moves On Rafah
China Warns Iran to Halt Houthi Attacks or Damage Trade Ties
US University To Shut Qatar Campus Due To "Heightened Mideast Instability"
Iran-backed hackers interrupt UAE TV streaming services with deepfake news
Facebook and Instagram Ban Iran's Supreme Leader
Finnish Airline, Finnair, is voluntarily weighing passengers to better estimate flight cargo weight
U.S. Secretary of State Blinken: The Israelis underwent dehumanization on 7.10, this does not give them the right to do this to others.
Defense Technology Showcase Held in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports rise 2.5% to $6bn in November 2023: GASTAT
UK Bans Misleading "Zero Emissions" Claims for Electric Cars
Gaza's Teen Inventor Sparks Light in Displacement
Netanyahu Rejects Ceasefire Proposal, Insists On Total Victory Over Hamas
Guterres appoints independent UNRWA review panel
Private Sector Employment Hits Record High with Over 11 Million Employees in January
Rolls-Royce Executive Encourages Saudi Women to Tap into Their Inner 'Superhero' for Success in Defense Industry
Saudi Arabia launches National Academy of Vehicles and Cars
Saudi Tourism Minister Reveals Plan for 250,000 New Hotel Rooms by 2030
SAR to more than double eastern network passenger capacity with new trains deal
Saudi Arabia Enhances National Defense with New Partnerships
Saudi Aramco Maintains Arab Light Crude Pricing to Asia for March
NEOM Establishes New York Office to Support Investors
Saudi Wealth Fund Draws in Over $25 Billion Worth of Investments in Three Years, Al-Rumayyan Reveals
ZATCA Cautions Against Scammer Schemes
INTRA Defense Technologies inaugurates drone factory in Riyadh
×