Saudi Arabia: SR 1.15 bn set aside for Madinah roadworks 

(MENAFN - Arab News) A sum of SR 1.15 billion was approved for road and transport projects in Madinah province in the current financial year, the director general of roads and transport of Madinah province announced.

Key projects to be implemented include the 30-km Madinah-Tabuk highway (Phase 3), 25-km King Khaled Road (third ring) and the old Madinah-Qassim Road with the intersection of the entrance of Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport, Zuhair bin Abdullah Katib was quoted by the Saudi Press Agency as saying.

He said a number of road projects are currently being carried out in Madinah province at a cost of SR 3.62 billion. The total length of roads is 1,978 km and include King Khaled Road, Yanbu Road, in addition to repair works at King Abdullah Road (second ring), Madinah-Tabuk Road, Yanbu-Amlaj-Sharma Road and other secondary and branch roads.

Earlier in the year, Transport Minister Jabara Al-Seraisry announced the Kingdom would spend SR 11 billion ( 2.9 billion) on new road projects in 2013.

The budget allocation allows for 223 new road projects to be initiated across the country, with Riyadh and Makkah attracting most investment, an earlier report filed by Arab News said.

Riyadh will have new road projects valued at SR 1.48 billion ( 395 million), followed by SR 1.2 billion ( 320 million) for Makkah.

"There will be 22 road projects in Asir," the minister said, adding they would cost SR 1.1 billion ( 293.3 million).