In five years’ time, Bahrainis will be able to drive to Qatar on the world’s longest fixed link. Samuel Marshreports on the plans
Late last September, it was announced that work would soon start on the much-vaunted Friendship Causeway linking Bahrain and Qatar.
The 40km structure, which it’s estimated will cost at least US$2bn, is set to be the world’s longest fixed link, connecting the west coast of Qatar, near the Zubarah fortress, with Bahrain’s east coast, south of Manama.
Causeways are nothing new for the citizens of Bahrain. The existing King Fahad Causeway to Saudi Arabia is a major engineering feat, a crucial economic, as well as social, link between two Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries, and a unique attraction in Bahrain. Since 1986, visitors and curious locals are routinely urged to drive out to enjoy the views from the restaurant at its mid-point, a trip often planned to coincide with sunset; those with the appropriate visa are then able to drive the 25km from Bahrain to Saudi Arabia. The lightly undulating road stretches straight ahead but, unlike most car journeys in the Middle East, there’s water on either side of you, not sand.
The four-lane causeway cost US$1.2bn, took five years to complete, and is in three parts: from Bahrain to Umm Al-Na’san Island, from there to an artificial base on the border between the two kingdoms, and then on to Khobar. The longest bridge spans 5.2km.
Plans for the Qatar-Bahrain link, to be built by French construction company Vinci, in collaboration with real estate investment company Qatari Diar and the Qatar-Bahrain Causeway Foundation, propose 20km of dams in shallow waters and 20km of viaducts and bridges; two 400m bridges will allow navigation for boats along the two coasts. Danish consultancy COWI was first involved with preparatory studies in 2001; further studies are expected to take seven months, with construction then taking a little more than four years.
The ambitious plans mean that the whole GCC region will be accessible by road. Such is the excitement generated by the current proposal, there are even suggestions that the UAE and Qatar might be one day be linked. Recent reports quoting COWI’s regional adviser, Mohammed Ali, suggest that a link between Abu Dhabi and Qatar would cost as much as US$13bn. However, if it saves UAE residents a lengthy drive through Saudi Arabia, as well as avoid visa restrictions, many would argue it’s worth it. |
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