The transport ministries of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have invited investors, banks, PPP experts, law firms and large contractors to attend an industry consultation event on 7 June for the second causeway that will link both countries as well as to the planned GCC railway network.

The consultation meeting will be held in Bahrain.

The project, which will be procured on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis, will entail a new rail and road causeway parallel to the existing King Fahd Causeway.

The new project is a 75km long rail and road structure, which will connect to the main GCC railway network and the existing Saudi rail network.

Representatives from both Saudi Arabia and Bahrain transport ministries will address delegates at the meeting.

Canada’s SNC Lavalin completed the technical and financial feasibility study for the scheme in 2016.

It is understood that more than 10 million vehicles cross the existing King Fahd causeway each year and that the planned new causeway carries little uncertainty in terms of risk.

Bahrain’s Minister of Transport and Telecommunications Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed told MEED in March that the planned GCC railway provides another opportunity in addition to the rising vehicle traffic to build a second causeway linking the two countries. “It is better to do it now when it’s cheaper than doing it later,” Mohammed told MEED.