In this screenshot from Google map, the dashed line linking Buraidah, the capital of Qassim province, and the holy city of Makkah, is just for illustration purposes. It’s not necessarily where the planned expressway would be built.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has approved the allocation of SR4.5 billion to build an expressway between Qassim and Makkah with service facilities along the road.

Qassim Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar thanked Custodian of the Two House Mosques King Abdullah on behalf of the region’s people for the gesture, saying it reflects the king’s desire to enhance the welfare of citizens and residents in the country.

He said the new expressway would facilitate travel between the two regions, especially pilgrims traveling to Makkah to perform Haj and Umrah. “It will also strengthen the Kingdom’s road network.”

The new budget allocation comes less than a week after the king ordered the construction of another major highway linking the southern regions of Asir and Jazan at a cost of SR6 billion.

The two highways come under new road projects worth SR24 billion approved by King Abdullah to promote communication facilities in the Kingdom.

King Abdullah, meanwhile, ordered the Real Estate Development Fund to write off SR243 million owed by 1,158 citizens who have died.

“The fund has completed measures for the payment of their loans and lifted mortgages on their properties,” said Yousuf Al-Zoghaibi, director-general of the fund.

 
[wpResize]