The project has been on hold since 2010
Bahrain and Qatar have resumed talks on the long-delayed construction of a 40 kilometre causeway linking the two countries.
Arif Khamis, the undersecretary of Bahrains ministry of finance, told Bahrains state news agency that the engineering design phases and task of determining the path of the causeway between the two countries has been completed.
The $4bn Qatar-Bahrain causeway, also known as the Qatar Bahrain Friendship Bridge, was approved in 2005, but the project was hit with delays and the consortium involved with the scheme demobilised in 2010.
The consortium is led by a joint venture of state-owned developer Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company and French contractor Vinci Construction Grand Projects. Germanys Hochtief, Athens-based Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC), Dredging International from Belgium, and the local Middle East Dredging Company (Medco) are the other consortium members. US-based engineering and construction company KBR is managing the project.
Original designs for the project comprised a 40km-long dual carriageway featuring 22km of bridges and viaducts and 18km of embankments and two 400-metre cable-stayed bridges. The causeway will connect Ras Ashairij on the west coast of Qatar to Askar on the east coast of Bahrain.
The crossing is expected to cut the journey time between the two countries, which involves a detour through Saudi Arabia, from five hours currently to just 30 minutes.
You might also like...
Lunate acquires 40% stake in Adnoc Oil Pipelines
26 April 2024
Saudi Arabia's Rawabi Holding raises SR1.2bn in sukuk
26 April 2024
Iraq oil project reaches 70% completion
26 April 2024
Samana announces $272m Dubai Lake Views project
26 April 2024
A MEED Subscription...
Subscribe or upgrade your current MEED.com package to support your strategic planning with the MENA region’s best source of business information. Proceed to our online shop below to find out more about the features in each package.