Muscat plans to build a bridge to connect Masirah island on Oman’s eastern coast to the mainland.

Oman’s ruler Sultan Qaboos bin Saeed has asked the government to start planning for the construction of the sea bridge.

The National Economy Ministry has been selected to prepare the necessary studies and choose a consulting firm to design the proposed new bridge.

The bridge is one of a number of infrastructure projects that Muscat has planned or is currently undertaking.

Oman’s Supreme Committee for Town Planning recently received prequalification applications for project management on its national Batinah railway project. The railway will be built in three phases. The first phase will be made up of a 230-kilometre line that runs from Sohar to Muscat. The second phase will involve building a 560km line running from Muscat to Duqm. Oman may then decide to extend the line to Salalah, which would involve building a 580-km track (MEED 20:6:10).