Gulf Construction Online - Tamimi wins Jamarat Bridge contract

Makkah & Madinah

The Jamarat bridge ... a new project for Tamimi.

Tamimi wins Jamarat Bridge contract

01 December 2009

SAUDI-based Tamimi Membrane Structure has secured a contract to install a PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) roof cover over the 950-m-long and 80-m-wide Jamarat bridge at Mina in Makkah.

The deal was awarded by Saudi Binladin Group (SBG), the main contractor for the bridge work. SBG recently completed the fifth floor on the $1.2-billion multi-storey bridge. |

Under the contract worth SR60 million ($16 million), Tamimi will cover an area equal to four football stadiums, measuring approximately 500 m in length and 80 m in width with Teflon-coated material, which can withstand harsh weather conditions and has a life expectancy of more than 30 years.

Speaking to Gulf Construction, executive manager of Tamimi Membrane Structure Engineer Ayed Tamimi, says: “The entire embedment system (anchor bolts and base plate) for all the steel columns and tie-back cables were cast during this year’s concrete work activities.”

High-tensile steel will be used for the installation of the roof structures. The steel and fabric work is expected to be completed by next year’s Hajj season.

Complex design analysis using advanced CFD (Computation Fluid Dynamics) was carried out to investigate the effects on the wind speed and directions on the membrane cover in view of the surrounding mountains.
The Jamarat bridge is designed to accommodate five million pilgrims. It is constructed around three pillars, where as part of the Hajj ritual, pilgrims throw stones, symbolising the rejection of temptation. The bridge currently has five floors, each having a height of 12 m. The entire project is designed to expand up to 12 storeys in the future if a need arises.

The bridge is also equipped with surveillance technology to alert authorities in case of any stampedes. The multi-level project is installed with water sprinklers and air-conditioning that can reduce the temperature to about 29 deg C.

It also includes subways for underground vehicular traffic to provide more space for pedestrians in the bridge areas in addition to six exits for emergency evacuation through six emergency towers leading to the ground floor and tunnels as well as to the helipads.

Tamimi Membrane Structure is part of the Ali Abdulmohsin Al Tamimi Sons Company. Its tent factory is considered to be one of the oldest in the Gulf region. The company was established 50 years ago by Sheikh Ali Abdulmohsin Al Tamimi and over this period, it has become a leader in its sector with factories specialising in the manufacture and supply of all types of tents and structural fabric for both the private and the public sectors.

The company employs 144 personnel including managers, engineers, administrators, technicians and skilled labourers in the factory. Its products include standard, military, fire-resistant, festival, picnic, goat hair and cotton tents. Tamimi also offers warehouse covers, cars and trucks covers, tensile membrane structures, awnings, and sleeping bags and canopies.