Jeddah: North Corniche is undergoing a major facelift as part of a plan to convert it into a tourist attraction.
There will be family sitting areas, amusement parks for children and wide spaces for walking and jogging.
A British company planned the projects and an Arab firm finalized the architectural designs.A Saudi company will carry out the development projects, which are expected to begin in eight months and completed within three years. Deputy Mayor of Jeddah for Construction and Projects Dr. Abdullah Sirajuddin told the Arabic language daily Okaz the projects will be carried out in four stages.
The first and second stages will be completed before the beginning of the next summer.
The new development will cover 12 km Corniche area, starting from the Frontier Guard Administration building in the south to the open areas behind Fatima Al-Zahra Mosque in the north.
Clearing the lagoons and opening underground conduits between them and the sea is another aspect of the project. It will connect the lagoon with marine life and prevent foul odor.
The Corniche Road will be expanded by adding new lanes so that it can accommodate the expected increase in traffic after the project is completed.
Greenery will also significantly increase. Designs have been laid out for a 10-meter-wide passage along the Corniche, which will have resting seats.
The project will totally change the Corniche, but it will retain some of the existing buildings like the mosques.
Setting up any investment project on the seashore will be prohibited, except for those which have already started. However, investment projects will be allowed in the area overlooking the sea, which is across the road. The construction of high-rise buildings will be allowed.
The Corniche will be divided into eight sites:
- First site: The area near Fatima Al-Zahra Mosque (the starting point of the project) will be converted to a wide, circular area with a width of 40 meters. Most of the open areas will be allocated for pedestrians. Green grass and palm trees will be grown there. There will be parking lots in the area.
- Second site: A 30-meter-wide sandy beach will be created in front of Al Sanibel Mosque. People will be able to sit comfortably near the sea and enjoy the beautiful view.
- Third site: A sandy beach, which will be used only for swimming, will be available opposite the Hilton Hotel. The beach will be bordered from the eastern side by green spaces and places for sitting on the ground.
- Fourth site: A pavement behind the Corniche Road, located between the Hilton and Sheraton hotels and opposite Al-Bilad Hotel will be converted into shaded sitting areas and parking lots. At the moment, there are green patches and sitting areas on the pavement.
- Fifth site: The plan extends from Al-Nawras Square to the end of Sari Street. The area will be converted into a place where families can sit under the palm trees. There will also be games for children in an amusement park that can accommodate over 500 children.
- Sixth site: Located at the end of Sari Street, at a distance of 1.5 km toward the south, it will be converted into another sandy beach. There will be green areas in the form of steps and palm trees. Sufficient space for parking cars will also be available.
- Seventh site: The rocky area at the end of the Northern Corniche, toward the south, will be transformed into a park with sitting areas for families.
- Eighth site: The last site toward the south is opposite the Chucky Cheese restaurant. There's an eight-meter-wide pavement, and boulders can be seen on the shore.
The boulders will be demolished and the area will be converted into pathways and for sitting on the ground. Sufficient parking lots will be available.
© The Saudi Gazette 2007
