A total of 150 properties will be acquired at an estimated cost of SR45 billion ($11.99 billion) for the Jeddah Metro project, the design of which is scheduled to be ready by next month, said a report.

The project will be implemented in the middle of next year and work will start on the Obhur suspended bridge, reported the Arab News citing a top company official.

Eight alliances have been formed to construct the bridge, which on completion will have eight lanes for 6,000 vehicles per hour, revealed Jeddah Metro Company executive director Osama Abdou.

"The Obhur bridge, which will be one of the longest suspension bridges in the world, will link the south Obhur with north Obhur, pass through Sharm Obhur. The metro's Orange line will pass through the bridge, and the separating area has a railway line and a pedestrian crossing on both sides,” the official said.

In addition to the bridge, there will be train and bus networks, marine transport line and corniche carts.

"Once ready, the commuters going to Jeddah airport will have a choice of using the Haramain railway toward Makkah, or riding the metro to Jeddah governorate, and taking the train towards Makkah from Al Muntalaq station, which will be the largest train station in the Middle East," remarked Abdou.

The station will have five-star hotels, commercial and service centres, and a medical centre.

The public transport project is expected to be completed by the end of 2020, and the final phase of the project will be completed in 2022, after all safety tests are carried out, Abdou said.

Jeddah Metro had earlier announced that public transport projects include a four-line metro network. The Blue line will extend from south Jeddah to King Abdulaziz International Airport with a length of 33 km (with 19 stations).

The 42-km-long Orange line will connect the Obhur suspension bridge bypassing old Makkah road through 30 stations, while the 16.5-km-long Green line will connect the downtown area with Al Haramain railway through 12 stations, said the report.

The 58-km Red line will connect King Abdullah Stadium and King Abdullah Road, passing through 24 stations, the report added.