Saudi authorities have started work on a new 72-km-long highway, which, on opening will cut the travel time between the cities of Jeddah and Makkah to just 35 minutes from the present 1 hour and 43 minutes, said a report.

The highway will extend from the airport in Jeddah to the fourth ring road in Makkah, reported the Saudi Gazette, citing a Ministry of Transport spokesman.

"The highway construction will be carried out in four stages, remarked Turki Al Toaimi. Budget allocations for the first three stages have already been made, he added.

According to him, the first two stages are expected to be finished in one year if the expropriation process is completed on time.

The new highway will serve the districts in north Jeddah, Obhur, Al Jawhara Stadium and King Abdullah Economic City, he added.