I just read someone mentioning in another thread here about a link being made between Qatar and Bahrain. Is this a real plan? I've tried looking up a thread about this but didn't find anything, maybe I didn't look well enough.

I think it's a pretty cool idea (thats if it's really happening), what is your take on this?

Ya it is happening, it's already got the approval. I think the reason why they still didn't start is that there is a study for a maglev train that will be part of the bridge. It's supposed to be the longest in the world (40-45 km). There is a thread somewhere. I'll look it up for you before I sleep.

Thanks!

I'l read more tomorrow, I'm off too the world of dreams! All this fasting and study is draining me.

Here is the thread: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=155039

good news

franky, i do not wish to see this link come true, for many reasons, as follows:

- the coast of the link was put @ around 3 billion $, so if qatar can come up with it's share of the cost, can bahrain do?

- the qatar's financial contribution to the link is badly needed for development qatar is witnessing @ the moment, and it's such a waste of money to spend it on a non-periority projects, like the link.

- the link, once it's built, w'd help bahrain financially, namely through the huge exudos of qataris to bahrain during holidays, which means a lucrative days of potential tourists & visitors to the island's hotels and entertainment business.

- not to mention the crossing fees that bahraini customs w'd collect from qatari visitors.

- the effect on qatar airways's flights to bahrain, which w'd witness a slump in the passengers who'd use the link rather than travel by air.

- above all, i don't trust the bahraini governement, from previous experiences, they're un-trustworthy & un-predictable, and i bet one phone call from outside bahrain, w'd make them go back to the pre international court of justice decision's period, God forbids.

i don't mind supplying bahrain with natural gas, oil & having few investements over there, but a 3 billion $ link, is way too much. instead, i say let's go ahead with the plans of the link with uae. a7na jayeen likom ya imarat!!!

The thread in our forum says it will cost approximately 4.7 Billion dollars, and not just 3..!

And i'm sure Bahrain will pay its fair share, don't worry...

What do you mean though one phone call from outside!? Outside where??

And yeah, i almost understand what you're saying, cuz it seems to me like Bahrain stands to gain the most from this project...! :)

So whats the story behind the train or maglev or whatever...!? Is it supposed to link Manama and Doha altogether, going across the bridge...That would sure be nice, if the train is modern, comfortable, fast, and with a quick swipe of our ID cards, no worrying about traffic and/or queing..

First of all, I dont think the link will cost four billion dollars. The bridge as a whole is easy to build and does not need advanced technological methods since the depth of the Arabian Gulf at the point of building does not exceed 10 meters. The lengh will be the longest in the world. (I did a whole paper about this project...) I think it is a win-win situation here;
1. Saudis and Bahrainis will come to Qatar, and Qataris will go to Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
2. Qatar and Bahrain would by then will both be more advanced in terms of tourism; therefore, all citizens will come to each others' country.
3. Qatar Airways is expanding at an extremely rapid pace. I dont think Bahrain will affect the growth that much.
4. If the link between UAE and Qatar gets built, then Qatar will definetly benifit as a transit area.
5. The area north of Qatar such as Al Khor and Zubara will develop into tourist areas (justas the master plan of the project says)
6. The distance between Qatar and Bahrain is almost the same or less than from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, which means that people would be contantly crossing bounddaries=more revenue.

i'm not worrying @ all as weather bahrain can or can't pay it's share of the link's cost, but what's worries me is that such a project have been placed on top of the 2 countries cooperation agenda, while the cost should actually absorbed into development of both countries. period.

the outside call i'm refering to, is from the broad-minded beneovlent western "big sisterly neighbour". shhhhh, u didn't hear it from me!

- above all, i don't trust the bahraini governement, from previous experiences, they're un-trustworthy & un-predictable, and i bet one phone call from outside bahrain, w'd make them go back to the pre international court of justice decision's period, God forbids.

i don't mind supplying bahrain with natural gas, oil & having few investements over there, but a 3 billion $ link, is way too much. instead, i say let's go ahead with the plans of the link with uae. a7na jayeen likom ya imarat!!!


If Qatar wouldn't benefit, then it wouldn't go ahead with the project. Second, there is the proposed gulf link and the link from Bahrain - Qatar will be through the bridge.

And about not trustin the Bahraini gov., it's your government that took the whole dispute thing to court not us (on two occasions), when it should've been solved peacefully. So I wouldn't argue much about the times before the international court of justice.


Overall, this project will really benefit both countries in many ways, be it economically, socially and politically. That's it for my share in this thread. Ciao ppl.

taking the matter to ICJ was a brilliant decision by qatar. it had solved the problem once 'n' for all, instead of the past years of tensions and confrontation and mistrust between both countries. now everything was solved peacefully, and things returned to it's natural path, didn't u like that, or u wanted things to remain unstable so u can solve it in ur own 'peaceful way"?

as for the link, FYI, qatar didn't went ahead with it, as of yet. what we're witnessing now is numreous meetings of joint committees, issuing statments about how the link is important and should be built, but at the end, everybody goes home knowing that this is not going to happen, at least not in the near future. otherwise, how can u explain since the blue prints are ready, the total cost is known and agreed upon, the link's path have been chosen, but never given the green light?

taking the matter to ICJ was a brilliant decision by qatar. it had solved the problem once 'n' for all, instead of the past years of tensions and confrontation and mistrust between both countries. now everything was solved peacefully, and things returned to it's natural path, didn't u like that, or u wanted things to remain unstable so u can solve it in ur own 'peaceful way"?

as for the link, FYI, qatar didn't went ahead with it, as of yet. what we're witnessing now is numreous meetings of joint committees, issuing statments about how the link is important and should be built, but at the end, everybody goes home knowing that this is not going to happen, at least not in the near future. otherwise, how can u explain since the blue prints are ready, the total cost is known and agreed upon, the link's path have been chosen, but never given the green light?

I'd rather it was solved peacefully between the two cause that's a sign of trust and it didn't make things great when Qatar took the thing to the ICJ. I don't understand why the issue popped up to start off with, total waste of time and money imo. Anyways, things are great now between the two so let's look forward to the future.

we've been negotiating, looking for mediation, exchanging envoys & there's wasn't any dick, tom & harry who spared and no peace-maker who jumped behind every bush in order to find a peaceful sloution for the dispute....and all of that went into total fiasco, and have been for years & years. so w'd u kindly enlighten us of what's the 'peaceful way" to solve the problem that ur country was holding in it's hidden drawers? oh yeah, accepting the status quo and fak propositions to unification between both countries, dosen't count.

above all, i don't trust the bahraini governement, from previous experiences, they're un-trustworthy & un-predictable

Please remind everyone here which country was it that issued phoney documents and forged papers and presented them to the court concerning Hawar. Please get your facts straight before talking.

Please remind everyone here which country was it that issued phoney documents and forged papers and presented them to the court concerning Hawar. Please get your facts straight before talking.

Oh ya how did I forget that. Plus, you don't trust the Bahraini government, we don't trust you more, did you forget the spies that were caught or shall we remind you.

It could've been solved without goin to court again, honestly what a waste. More complex things have been solved and agreed on than this.

Guys from what I know all these disputes have been settled and been put behind so shouldn't we be looking forward to the future and uniting as one?

Sorry, I'm really being careful with what I'm saying, I don't want to offend anyone and neither am I taking sides but this thread was meant to be about a 'bridge' between Qatar and Bahrain.

Guys from what I know all these disputes have been settled and been put behind so shouldn't we be looking forward to the future and uniting as one?

Sorry, I'm really being careful with what I'm saying, I don't want to offend anyone and neither am I taking sides but this thread was meant to be about a 'bridge' between Qatar and Bahrain.

It was until, well scroll up and see.

To be honest, there are many deviations in so many threads that I'll probably change my tolerance policy, I mean threads don't stick to the titles.

Meena, Here is the thread: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=155039

Hope this helps. I'll lock this thread, it'll go way out of hand and will most likely get nasty from the way things went.

Well guys decided to open this thread in Qatar Forum aswell since it is a joint project between two governments. All the info on SSC has so far been coming from Bahrain media so maybe we can see more of the Qatari info here :)

Here is the thread in Bahrain Forum:
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=155039

And here is the latest on this:

$500 million company on the way
04.05.06
Gulf Daily News (http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=142682&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=29045)

MANAMA: A $500 million (BD189m) company may be formed within the next few weeks to build and raise money for the Bahrain-Qatar Friendship Causeway, Works and Housing Minister Fahmi Al Jowder said yesterday.

The start-up capital will be split equally between the governments of Bahrain and Qatar and the remaining financing will come from the private sector.

Mr Al Jowder said that over $2.7 billion (BD1.02bn) would be needed to build the 40km causeway, including associated infrastructure. "The initial signing ceremony is expected to be held in Bahrain shortly with work beginning immediately afterwards."

"Studies have already been completed and approved."

Mr Al Jowder was speaking at the Bahrain American Chamber of Commerce meeting at the Gulf Hotel yesterday.

Private role in housing - Page 3

I have done a complete case study of this project. I'll try to post some info, as soon as I return back to Qatar :)!

"Studies have already been completed and approved."
we all know that. but when it will be APPROVED by the qatari-bahraini supreme commitee, that's the question.
meanwhile, let's concentrate, here in qatar, on more important projects.

it was $4.8bn before :sleepy:

some pictures
http://tradearabia.com/source/2004-11/28/causeway.jpg
http://www.sb-partner.com/illu/bahrain_dw2.jpg

so butiful :)

I have done a complete case study of this project. I'll try to post some info, as soon as I return back to Qatar :)!


great...btw halawala where r u now anyway?

How many Qataris want this ??

great...btw halawala where r u now anyway?


Hi, I am now in UAE! :)

Q4E, I want this bridge to happen so that we dont pass through e7m e7m when going to Bahrain. ;)

^^Yeah its quite a long way by road at the moment....Imagine having llunch at Lusail....then going for dinner and opera at BFH :)

same reason for me :) less time and away from a7em a7em

Does any 1 have an idea on how long approx. it will be in a 1 way trip?

I'm sorry, but I can't stop thinking how vulnerable such a long bridge can be to a terrorist attack.

it was $4.8bn before :sleepy:

some pictures
http://tradearabia.com/source/2004-11/28/causeway.jpg
http://www.sb-partner.com/illu/bahrain_dw2.jpg

This render looks suspiciously like the New Bay Bridge design between SF and the East Bay...

How many Qataris want this ??

i don't know about the rest, but i know i don't want this.

there are terrorist attaks in qatar? i think the bridge looks awesome!

there are terrorist attaks in qatar? i think the bridge looks awesome!


Terrorist attack?? shda55al??? There was just one attack last year--but inshallah it will be the last.

Does any 1 have an idea on how long approx. it will be in a 1 way trip?
I went to Doha like 8 months ago through Saudi... I think it took about 6 and a half hours.... But with this causeway, it'd probably be something like 4 hours... It's still a long way, but it'll cut about a third of the time and distance it takes... I think...

I went to Doha like 8 months ago through Saudi... I think it took about 6 and a half hours.... But with this causeway, it'd probably be something like 4 hours... It's still a long way, but it'll cut about a third of the time and distance it takes... I think...

No way 4 hours! When I went to Zubara (which is the point in Qatar where the bride is going to start) it took me 45 minutes to get there. So, I would assume it would take between 1:30 minutes to 2:00 including border customs to get from Doha to Manama! After all, the distance between Doha and Manama is less than Dubai to Abu Dhabi, which ususally takes me 1 hour and a half.

I went to Doha like 8 months ago through Saudi... I think it took about 6 and a half hours.... But with this causeway, it'd probably be something like 4 hours... It's still a long way, but it'll cut about a third of the time and distance it takes... I think...

com on pal how com 4 hours :eek2: through the caseway... from kuwait to bahrain 4 hours in 120 km/h.. well I think it will take less than 2 hours :cheers:

Allah !! 3ad when we build the causeway we make sure that ppl coming from bahrain can see the Zubrah Fort and we will fly the biggest Qatari flag.. and then we will have a big billboard saying "7aame'6 3alla boozkim" lol... let the pooh flinging start.

Allah !! 3ad when we build the causeway we make sure that ppl coming from bahrain can see the Zubrah Fort and we will fly the biggest Qatari flag.. and then we will have a big billboard saying "7aame'6 3alla boozkim" lol... let the pooh flinging start.


...and on youre way to Bahrain you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Hawar!! But that will be AFTER the Qatari border ofcourse :D

^^ Oh so that's why so many Qataris don't want this :) Come on guys you need to let that go. I mean yes that island is so close to Qatar but you have to remember that Bahrain is tiny and they need every piece of extra land they can get !

^^better that its tiny so we have to build more skyscrapers lol :)

^^better that its tiny so we have to build more skyscrapers lol :)

Yup :) Btw I wasn't like teasing Bahrain or anything ;)

^^3aaddii...it never crossed my mind

Construction is scheduled for 2007 and completion for 2010.

just in time for completion of major projects in both countires :)

meow

Any other big events planned for Qatar in the future besides this year's Asian Games?

^^I don't think there is anything else.
I would love to see this bridge being built in the near future. It would be fun to go to Bahrain from time to time.

well olympics2016 but lets not talk about that

^^ I dunno about that

انتعاش في سوق الأراضي البحريني
جسر البحرين - قطر سينعش الأسواق الخليجية

مهند سليمان من المنامة


ينتظر اقتصاديون خليجيون وبحرينيون بدء إنشاء جسر البحرين قطر الذي كشف وزير الأشغال والإسكان البحريني فهمي الجودر عن الاتفاق قريباً لإنشاء هيئة ستناط بها مهام إدارة المشروع بكلفة تصل إلى 500 مليون دولار، والذي من المتوقع أن ينعش السوق التجارية البحرينية والقطرية ويجعل من البحرين معبرا رئيسا لدول الخليج التي ستختصر المسافة عبرها إلى الدوحة والإمارات .


الوزير فهمي قال أن تكلفة إنشاء الهيئة ستكون مناصفة بين كل من البحرين وقطر للمشروع الذي سيكلف 7.2 بليون دولار، وسيستغرق تنفيذه ما بين أربع إلى خمس سنوات وسيضاف إليه خط لسكة الحديد، وأشار إلى أنه كان من المقرر توقيع الاتفاقيات بخصوص المشروع خلال الأسبوعين الماضيين، وتم تأجيل الموعد وسيتم توقيع الاتفاقيات الأسابيع القليلة المقبلة، ويبلغ طول الجسر وفقا لمساره النهائي 40 كيلومتر، وسينطلق من قرية عسكر في الجانب الشرقي من المملكة حتى رأس عشيريج في الجانب القطري، كما رفعت اللجنة التأسيسية تقريرها النهائي إلى اللجنة العليا المشتركة للتعاون بين البحرين وقطر برئاسة وليي عهد البحرين وقطر، وتتشكل اللجنة التأسيسية من 6 شخصيات بحرينية وقطرية يمثلون الجوانب المالية والفنية والقانونية.


ومن المتوقع أيضا ان يكون هناك بالتوازي مع الجسر خط سكك حديدية يربط بين قطر والبحرين وشرق المملكة في إطار الاتفاق العام لقادة دول مجلس التعاون الخليجي علي دراسة موضوع إنشاء سكك حديدية تربط كل دول الخليج وان يكون احد الخيارات للتنقل بين الدول واستخدامها لتعزيز حركة نقل البضائع وتبنت دولة الكويت موضوع التعاقد مع احدي الشركات العالمية لتقوم بإعداد دراسات الجدوى لهذا المشروع.


اللجنة المشتركة لإنشاء الجسر حسبما علمت ايلاف حددت سبع خيارات للطرق الداخلية التي ستربط الجسر بالطرق الداخلية المؤدية لجسر الملك فهد والعاصمة وسلمتها للجنة العليا، وستساهم الخيارات السبعة بارتفاع لأسعار الأراضي التي ستضطر الحكومة البحرين لاستملاكها بغية نجاح المشروع،وحسب مصادر بوزارة الإسكان والأشغال فإن مسار الخيار الأول سيبدأ من نهاية الجسر وانطلاقا بمنطقة عسكر ومن ثم جسر سترة المرتبط بشارع الشيخ عيسى بن سلمان المؤدي إلى جسر الملك فهد.


وأشارت المصادر بان الخيار الأول يعتبر الأطول من بين الخيارات لكنه سيستفيد من تطوير شارع سترة وبناء الجسر ذو الثلاث مسارات في الجانبين وبالتالي الوصول إلى المنامة والطريق المؤدي للسعودية في ذات الوقت.


وأشارت إلى ان اللجنة أبدت تخوفها من هذا المسار كونها سيوفر حلا مؤقتا في ظل ارتفاع أعداد السيارات واستغلال الخليجيين الطريق للمرور عبر إلى قطر وسيكون مناسبا إلى 2011 فقط ولن يكون صالحا بعدها.


واستبعد الخيار الثاني المسار الأول الذي اختارته اللجنة كونه سيكون مؤقتا فقط واقترحت ان ينطلق المسار من عسكر مرور بدوار ألبا ومن ثم إلى شارع الاستقلال المؤدي إلى مدينة عيسى ، ومن ثم المرور بدوار وزارة العمل وسلماباد حتى كوبري السهلة وبالتالي إلى المنامة أو شارع الشيخ عيسى المؤدي إلى السعودية.


وذكرت اللجنة في التقرير ان هذا الطريق سيكون أسرعا للربط بين الجسرين لكن المشكلة التي تعتري هذا الطريق انه مزدحما في معظم الأوقات الأمر الذي يتطلب توسعة كبيرة جدا وبناء جسور داخلية قد تكلف الحكومة الكثير من المصاريف والاستملاكات لمرورها في العديد من المساكن والمصانع.


أما المسار البديل الثالث فقد اقترحت اللجنة في تقريرها ان يتم إنشاء طريق جديد واستغلال طريق الفورمولا واحد دون اللجوء إلى استخدام شوارع سترة والرفاع.
ويتم المقترح إنشاء طريق جديد ينطلق من عسكر عبر الصخير ومن ثم عبر الطريق المؤدي للفورمولا مع الحاجة إلى استملاك أراضي شاسعة في المنطقة الشمالية ليكون الطريق محاذيا للقرى إلى ان يصل إلى الجسرة ومن ثم إلى جسر الملك فهد.


وبينت اللجنة إلى ان هذا الخيار سيكون ذو تكلفة عالية تصل إلى مئات الملايين بسبب الإستملاكات التي قد تضطر لها الحكومة في حال اختيارها لهذا الطريق، لكنها أشارت إلى انه سيساهم في إيصال السياح لمشروع درة البحرين بشكل أسرع وقد يحيي المناطق الجنوبية، كما سيساهم في تخفيض الاختناقات المرورية على الطرق الداخلية في العاصمة والشيخ عيسى.


أمام المسار الرابع فقد اقترحت اللجنة ان يتم الدمج بين الخيار الأول والثاني وإيجاد طريقين أساسيين من خلال جسر سترة وطريق الاستقلال لكن ذلك يواجه صعوبة أيضا للتكلفة العالية لتوسعة الطريقين وفق المعايير الدولية لكنه سيساهم في حل أزمة الاختناقات في حال التطوير.


ووجدت اللجنة ان المسار الخامس المقترح يمكن ان يضم المسار الأول وهو طريق جسر سترة إضافة إلى الطريق الجديد في المسار الثالث الأمر الذي سيساهم بشكل اكبر في حل الاختناقات المرورية ورفع مستوى السياحة وتشجيع الاستثمار في المناطق الجنوبية المحاذية لدرة البحرين.


وتخوفت للجنة في هذا المسار من مشكلة التكاليف الباهظة إضافة إلى توقع ارتفاع الحركة المرورية في 2011 الأمر الذي قد يتطلب خيارات جادة ومصيرية.
أما الخيار السادس فهو الأبعد والأصعب والذي اقترح إنشاء طريق جديد منفصل يربط الجسر بمدينة عيسى بسترة والمنامة والمناطق الشمالية وشارع الاستقلال لكن الخط المقترح للطريق يتوجب ان يمر في عدد من مواقع الأنابيب النفطية والغاز الأمر الذي قد يسبب مشكلة أخرى أمام هذا الخيار.


أما الخيار السابع والأخير فقد ذكرت المصادر ان اللجنة اقترحت ان يتم إنشاء طريق جديد موازياً لطريق سترة ودوار ألبا لربطه بشارع الشيخ عيسى بن سلمان المؤدي إلى السعودية، إضافة إلى إنشاء طريق يربط سترة بمطار البحرين مباشرة.


وكان مصدر حكومي رفيع المستوى كشف عن ارتفاع الميزانية التقديرية لإنشاء جسر المحبة بين البحرين وقطر إلى 2 مليار دولار بعد أن أشارت تقديرات سابقة إلى أن التكلفة تبلغ 7.1 دولار.

Actually, the government plans to transform Zubara into a tourist destination with a mini-Lusail-like project which involves environment parks, hotels, chalets, historical stuff and shopping/entertainment places. Zubara is directly in the path of the bridge.

But, I think they delayed the bridge since the North Road is still not expanded, and they will start expanding it in 2007 I think. There will also be a huge interchange in the North Road--one going East to Ras Laffan and one going West to Zubara/Bahrain.

:)

Cool, then we'll get to see road signs that say Bahrain on the North Road

Just like the ones saying e7m e7m on Salwa Road

^^Yes

Why do you think they delayed this project? The company says its political reasons. But do u think so? I think its delayed cause Qatar doesnt have good enough infrastructure leading to the bridge site.

Why do you think they delayed this project? The company says its political reasons. But do u think so? I think its delayed cause Qatar doesnt have good enough infrastructure leading to the bridge site.



nooooo :) its political reasons :) by the time the causeway get build the infrastructure in qatar would be ready to handle it, btw did any one here went to do5an lately, i heard that there is a nice road network there

What kind of bridge will it be? I know that it will consist of embankments, but what about the bridge structure?

^^ Q-freak it will consist of embankments mostly since the depth of the water is mostly shallow (less than 5 meters deep in the vast majority of areas), but there will be two main bridge-spans where ships can pass through and regulate the wave influx movements north and south of the bridge.

----Salman, I have been to Dukha (for fun) a year ago. It has bridges and tunnels. But the road to Dukhan (half of it was smooth, lighted, and highway-like) but the other half it like your in an African village.

^^ loool

LOooooool

lol. Maskeen hal dukhan.

المنامة ــ الدوحة ــ قنا ــ وقعت قطر والبحرين أمس اتفاقيتي إنشاء «الجسر» والأجواء المفتوحة، إلى جانب عدة اتفاقات أخرى، في ختام أعمال اللجنة المشتركة العليا.

وجرت مراسم التوقيع، في حضور سمو الشيخ تميم بن حمد آل ثاني ولي العهد، رئيس الجانب القطري في اجتماعات اللجنة المشتركة، وفي حضور الشيخ سلمان بن حمد آل خليفة ولي عهد البحرين القائد العام لقوة الدفاع رئيس الجانب البحريني.

ووصف سمو الشيخ تميم بن حمد آل ثاني ــ الذي عاد إلى الدوحة أمس ــ الاجتماع بأنه «لحظة مهمة وتاريخية» لكل من قطر والبحرين، وأعرب عن أمله في التوقيع على المزيد من الاتفاقات، لما فيه مصلحة الشعبين الشقيقين.

من جانبه، قال الشيخ سلمان آل خليفة إن الاجتماع يكتسب أهمية تاريخية خاصة، وأوضح أن «الجسر» سيسهم في فتح آفاق جديدة للتعاون الاقتصادي والتجاري والاستثماري.

وفي مؤتمر صحفي مشترك مع وزير خارجية البحرين، أكد سعادة الشيخ حمد بن جاسم بن جبر آل ثاني النائب الأول لرئيس الوزراء وزير الخارجية على أهمية هذا اليوم في العلاقات المتميزة بين قطر والبحرين.

pictures:

http://img157.imageshack.us/my.php?image=b17dj.jpg
http://img160.imageshack.us/my.php?image=b23rw.jpg
http://img125.imageshack.us/my.php?image=b31qn.jpg
http://img147.imageshack.us/my.php?image=b55hv.jpg
http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/7452/copy2oflinkbetweenqatarandbahr.jpg

some more pictures:

http://img163.imageshack.us/my.php?image=q8world10image0058em.jpg
http://img19.imageshack.us/my.php?image=q8world10image0061sa.jpg

There is another thread on it. But thanks for the information. The deal has been officially signed by both parties and construction work for both project is slated to begin next month by the end of June.

Causeway deal signed

The Heir Apparent H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and his Bahraini counterpart, Crown Prince H H Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, shaking hands after signing the agreement, as the First Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani looks on.
Doha • Qatar and Bahrain yesterday formally inked a deal to begin the construction of a 40-km causeway linking the two countries. Work on the project is slated to begin this month.

The two sides agreed to launch a special-purpose company to carry out the mega venture which is estimated to cost an astronomical $3bn, Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported from Manama yesterday.

H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Qatar's Heir Apparent, and his Bahraini counterpart, Crown Prince H H Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, put their signatures on the historic deal.

The two leaders also concluded a separate agreement to expand air links and assist each other in diplomatic and consular representation around the world, as well as a Memorandum of Understanding to boost economic and business ties.

The bridge project, tipped to be one of the longest in the world, was first announced in the year 2000 and its cost was then estimated at $1.8bn.

The 50-month project will cost around $3bn and work is expected to start before the end of June, H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani, Qatar's First Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister, told reporters in Manama.

He was addressing a joint press briefing with his Bahraini counterpart, H E Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohamed Al Khalifa, emerging from a meeting of an apex Qatari-Bahraini Joint Committee. This was the sixth meeting of the Committee since its formation a few years ago.

Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem, according to QNA, said that supplying natural gas to Bahrain is Qatar's priority and an agreement would be signed soon, after studies on the issue are over by next year.

“We have to be absolutely sure that we have the ability to meet the growing demand for natural gas, especially since we have committed to supply large quantities of gas to countries around the world," he said.

Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem noted there was a significant shift in Qatar-Bahrain relations after the border dispute was resolved. "The causeway project is one of the many deals of cooperation we have envisaged and signed in different fields," he said.

this is really good news but i dont like the 50 months part.

really nice :)

this thread is merged with the original one

no way its 4 hours! its just 1 and a half distance of the saudi bridge!

[IMG]qatar[IMG]

hey how come the image didnt apear! :bash:

[IMG]C:\Documents and Settings\Ali\My Documents\pix\qatar.jpg[IMG]

finally.

what do u mean finally?

seein yemeni_guy trying his hand at HTML coding makes me laugh with tears :rofl:

Bahrain laws on causeway

Doha • Bahrain's cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, yesterday approved two draft laws on the construction and expansion of the Bahrain-Qatar causeway, reports Bahrain News Agency (BNA).

The cabinet welcomed the causeway project as a move that will enhance the historical ties between Bahrain and Qatar and strengthen solidarity and harmony between the peoples. The session also praised efforts made by the leaders of the two countries to fulfill hopes and aspirations of their people.

i wonder whats the latest here. Work was supposidly started in june this year and ongoing for 50 months.

Due to it's position (far from Doha)... I don't think we'll ever get to see any pics from the Qatar side!

from Raya news: " some pls translate for the others"
و فيما يتعلق بمشروع جسر المحبة فقال الكواري انه الي الان لم يتم الاتفاق علي الجهة المسؤولة عن تنفيذ المشروع و لدينا مشروع طريق جسر الشمال و هو من مشاريع قطاع الطرق باشغال و الذي سيربط بين تقاطع الزبارة و يصل الي عشيرج و ننتظر تحديد موقع انطلاق الجسر حتي يتم ايصال مسار الطريق به و من خلال جسر المحبة و طريق الدوحة الدولي ستمتلك قطر شبكة طرق سريعة فالقادم من مملكة البحرين يستطيع الوصول الي الحدود الجنوبية دون التوقف سوي بمنطقة ميسيعيد ولكن تصميم الطريق سيوفر عددا من المداخل والمخارج بمدينة الدوحة.

So, there is no highway from Bu Samra to the bridge

from Raya news: " some pls translate for the others"
و فيما يتعلق بمشروع جسر المحبة فقال الكواري انه الي الان لم يتم الاتفاق علي الجهة المسؤولة عن تنفيذ المشروع و لدينا مشروع طريق جسر الشمال و هو من مشاريع قطاع الطرق باشغال و الذي سيربط بين تقاطع الزبارة و يصل الي عشيرج و ننتظر تحديد موقع انطلاق الجسر حتي يتم ايصال مسار الطريق به و من خلال جسر المحبة و طريق الدوحة الدولي ستمتلك قطر شبكة طرق سريعة فالقادم من مملكة البحرين يستطيع الوصول الي الحدود الجنوبية دون التوقف سوي بمنطقة ميسيعيد ولكن تصميم الطريق سيوفر عددا من المداخل والمخارج بمدينة الدوحة.

I have written a long reply but the site broke as usual.

Anyway, I have got to hand it over to the local media who completely dont know anything about what they are talking about.

A crash course in Qatari Media false reporting:

لم يتم الاتفاق علي الجهة المسؤولة عن تنفيذ المشروع. و ننتظر تحديد موقع انطلاق الجسر حتي يتم ايصال مسار الطريق به و من خلال جسر المحبة

Basically, there hasn't been a reached agreement on the construction firm. BS! There is one COWI, and its been there for years. The starting point in Qatar has been assigned for over 6 years now! I personally was told that from the company who complted full feasibility studies in 2000. What a load of BS coming from an someone.

Qatar and Bahrain yesterday formally inked a deal to begin the construction of a 40-km causeway linking the two countries. Work on the project is slated to begin this month.

The two sides agreed to launch a special-purpose company to carry out the mega venture.

The 50-month project will cost around $3bn and work is expected to start before the end of June

How opposite the two articles are coming from the same newspaper company!

Causeway construction approved

DOHA • The Deputy Emir and Heir Apparent H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani issued yesterday an instrument of ratification approving both the Qatar-Bahrain causeway construction agreement and the agreement providing for the establishment of the causeway corporation, as signed by the governments of both Qatar and Bahrain.



So, we it was already approved in June and now again?

LOOOOOL, 3ady we have 50 different approves from 50 different ministries, committees, and different people and blah blaah ;p

any updates?

I have no idea! Probably they are still forming a company or something. Maybe its under construction.

I have no idea! Probably they are still forming a company or something. Maybe its under construction.
if its underconstruction that will be great :)

WHEN!?

Doha • The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani yesterday issued a decree ratifying two agreements signed between Qatar and Bahrain in Manama on June 11, 2006 for the construction of Qatar-Bahrain causeway and for the setting up of the causeway commission. Both agreements would have the force of the law, as per provisions of article 68 of the constitution. The decree enters into force and becomes applicable from the date of its issue and it is to be published in the official gazette.

I Basically, there hasn't been a reached agreement on the construction firm. BS! There is one COWI, and its been there for years. The starting point in Qatar has been assigned for over 6 years now! I personally was told that from the company who complted full feasibility studies in 2000. What a load of BS coming from an someone.


Uh - Wrong. COWI are a Danish Consulting Engineer who specialise in transport infrastructure (they designed a similar bridge link - the Storaebelt bridge in Denmark).

Their role is to prepare the design drawings and specification, following which the bridge will be put out to tender to construction companies to bid. I do not think the project has gone to tender yet (but I could be wrong)

i thought it was almost complete

i thought it was almost complete

The design, tender or construction???

complete?

Construction...i thought it was almost finish, now i realise they're just starting it.

from Alraya news:

وصف الشيخ خالد بن أحمد ال خليفة وزير الخارجية البحريني العلاقات البحرينية القطرية بأنها استراتيجية وتبشر بمستقبل زاهر وقال اننا الان نسطر للتاريخ وشعوبنا افضل واقوي انواع التعاون مع الدول..........

.....واكد ان ابرز ماتحقق في ظل هذه العلاقات الحميمة هو الجسر البحري الذي سيربط البلدين وقال انه سيتم الانتهاء من كافة الدراسات الخاصة ببناء الجسر في غضون سبعة او ثمانية اشهر ومن ثم الشروع في البناء.

^^^ Sure, lies, lies, and lies. AND lets suppose theydid start today, it would take them 3 years to complete. How are people going to go to Bahrain with the current North Road, and crappy Zubara road? They need at least 6 years at least!

yes the north road is crap holes every where and lots of bumps its so old the blackness all went away its a white road !!!

loool Qatar_son, your post sounded a bit weird i a racist way..looool. No offense to anyone. and yeah its a really bad road..........i think they need to fix it soon........its an important road that connects to the north...

In the Gulf region Two projects worthy of mention are the Bahrain-Qatar link and the intercity link between Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, which would also link the major airports in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. One of the world's largest airports is currently under construction in Dubai.
The Transrapid and the possibilities it has to offer would be a fitting choice to establish a modern and attractive rail infrastructure in this economically attractive region.
http://www.transrapid.de/basics_en/archiv/8/wueste_03.jpg

http://www.transrapid.de/basics_en/archiv/8/golf2_en_2006.gif

http://www.transrapid.de/cgi-tdb/en/basics.prg?session=543829fe4673a73d&a_no=8

ohh is that for real.....amazing, we need to find out more information about it.......let me ask people and do some googling........

if anyone knows more about it please post. this is major and important

:O approx. 300 km/t nice

WOW! This in big! Please update this thread!!!!

Wow news!

Hope it happens

Hold on a sec………we can’t have this and the causeway, its either one of the other……..? or it will be really stupid. Maybe an internal one for Qatar would be amazing. it could link Doha, Emm Sa’aed and the north…….etc many other stops together and its also a perfect preparation for Doha’s population booming and upcoming events such as the indoor games and hopefully if Doha will make it for the 2016 Olympics.................

^^ What if you wana take ur car?

acctully it will be on the cause way dahhh

yeaaahhh thats right...... i didnt really think of that Qatar son.......looool
but still i thnik its useless to have both, one of the other and i suppodt the train. 30 min ride......that is nothing, you can live in Bahrain and work in Doha fod G-d's sake.........and vice versa

okay i have no idea wat is vice versea thing but i hope its good or else i will chop your head of i mean this is good for Qatar , Bahrain and the GCC now uae people can reach bahrain quicker than usual even for us any how i know the bridge is getting built but i also hope that this maglev gets built i mean 30 mins thats almost as the time it takes to go from qatar to bahrain by plane

30 min trip! wow sounds very promising! but I bet it will hurt the airlines between bahrain and doha, then again, they have been ripping everyone off with unreasonable ticket prices.

Thats absloutly correct :banana:

i dont think it will effect Qatar airways in any way possible......most probably it will effect Khalij airlines. Qatar airways flights to Bahrain are jsut something extra on the side since Qatar airways flights directly to the States DC starting from next week, and via to NY, soon to beb directly. And about vice versa Qatar son, it means the rule applies the other way around as well.

^^ acctully newyork will be in a week and later on DC i have no idea whats beb

Qatar airways stright flight Doha-DC-Doha starting on the 19th of July.....yesterday.........Daily flights
Qatar airwasy connection flgiht Doha-Geneva-NY-Geneva-Doha starting the 26th of July.......a week from now......4 Flights a week and soon to be a stright flight

guys, we're in the month of June, not July.

ohhhhh my bad...thats right thats right........oh koay then to New Yorm on the 26th of June and to DC 19th of July............that is right now mixed up with the dates...........loool

30 min trip! wow sounds very promising! but I bet it will hurt the airlines between bahrain and doha, then again, they have been ripping everyone off with unreasonable ticket prices.

Yeah, I think this will affect QR flights to Bahrain big time!! The flights are very expensive and make no sense for a 17 minute flight! But, maybe there will be some sort of connection-train link deal with QR to Bahrain.

ohhhhh my bad...thats right thats right........oh koay then to New Yorm on the 26th of June and to DC 19th of July............that is right now mixed up with the dates...........loool

ahmad good news i did not know that qatar airways are going to new yorm:lol: :lol: :lol:

guys... the bridge work is still not in progress... n this is just a proposal.. n this will take another few years to get approved....

^^ yes it is and the bridge will have some kind of train on it this might be it !

more info on the Maglev Trains

http://urbanity2.blogsome.com/2007/07/06/magnetic-levitation-railway-maglev/

not really they still didnt even start constructing the project of the bridge

qatar_son, is there an official website for the project?

not really i am not shure this will make through anyhow

Guys, they said something about this in the news, but I didnt listen to it carefully! Anybody hear anything?

Qatar-Bahrain causeway work to begin by May

The Qatar-Bahrain causeway… the project is expected to take four years to complete[/B]

WORK on the 40km-long ‘Friendship Causeway’ linking Qatar and Bahrain is to begin by May next year and the project is likely to be completed in 2011.A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on Thursday in Doha between the Qatar Bahrain Causeway Foundation (QBCF) and the consortium of companies that would execute the over $2bn project.

“Work will start some seven months from now,” QBCF chairman Ahmad Hassan al-Hammadi announced after signing the MoU.

He said construction of the causeway would enhance co-operation between Qatar and Bahrain. “The MoU is a result of joint efforts by the two signing parties,” he said.

“The details of the project will be worked out and mentioned in the final contract scheduled to be signed within the next four months,” he said.
Al-Hammadi said the final cost of the project was being worked out. However, he noted that the causeway would cost more than $2bn and take four years to complete.

He said the causeway would start at Ras Ashiraj, 5km from the Zubara fort on the western coast of Qatar and end at Askar village located on Bahrain’s eastern coast.
v
The MoU has been signed with a consortium led by French construction major Vinci and the Qatari Diyar, which was represented by Yanick Garillon.
Among others who were present from the Qatari side at the signing ceremony were Muftah Jassem al-Muftah, Ali Abdullah al-Abdullah, Nasser Hassan al-Ansari and Nayef Abdullah al-Siddiqi, who is the secretary-general of the Causeway Foundation. Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifah al-Khalifah, Sheikh Mohamed bin Ali al-Khalifah and Raed Mohamed Salah represented the Bahraini side.

also about the train

وذكر بيان صادر عن مؤسسة جسر قطر البحرين، بأن الجسر يمتد بطول 40 كيلو مترا وسيكون من أكبر الجسور في العالم، وذلك بعدة مسارات للحركة المرورية ومسار للطوارئ، بالإضافة إلي خط سكة حديد يمتد بطول الجسر كخطوة أولي، علي أن يربط بين عاصمتي البلدين في مرحلة لاحقة.. وسوف يعمل عليه قطار فائق السرعة، يمثل أحدث ما وصلت إليه التقنيات العالمية في هذا المجال.

^^ the super fast train is the best part..............in the gcc travelling by car is not comfortable...

any renders ?.................

http://i23.tinypic.com/fuxm41.jpg

also about the train

وذكر بيان صادر عن مؤسسة جسر قطر البحرين، بأن الجسر يمتد بطول 40 كيلو مترا وسيكون من أكبر الجسور في العالم، وذلك بعدة مسارات للحركة المرورية ومسار للطوارئ، بالإضافة إلي خط سكة حديد يمتد بطول الجسر كخطوة أولي، علي أن يربط بين عاصمتي البلدين في مرحلة لاحقة.. وسوف يعمل عليه قطار فائق السرعة، يمثل أحدث ما وصلت إليه التقنيات العالمية في هذا المجال.

Thank god this is going to be built ;):D:)

Words has been spoken ;)

also about the train

وذكر بيان صادر عن مؤسسة جسر قطر البحرين، بأن الجسر يمتد بطول 40 كيلو مترا وسيكون من أكبر الجسور في العالم، وذلك بعدة مسارات للحركة المرورية ومسار للطوارئ، بالإضافة إلي خط سكة حديد يمتد بطول الجسر كخطوة أولي، علي أن يربط بين عاصمتي البلدين في مرحلة لاحقة.. وسوف يعمل عليه قطار فائق السرعة، يمثل أحدث ما وصلت إليه التقنيات العالمية في هذا المجال.

Deal signed with five firms for Qatar-Bahrain causeway

Doha • The 'Jissr Qatar-Bahrain' (Qatar-Bahrain Causeway) Foundation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a consortium of five international firms to build the causeway project.

The project is slated to begin seven months from now and is expected to be completed in 48 months.

Ambassador Dr Ahmed Hassan Al Hammadi, Board Chairman of Jissr Qatar-Bahrain Foundation, signed the agreement with Vinci Construction Gulf Area Manager Engineer Yanick Garillon representing the partnership between Qatari Diar and the French firm Vinci Construction and several other major international firms at a function held at Four Seasons Hotel on Thursday.

The signing ceremony was attended by board members of Qatar-Bahrain Causeway Foundation including, from the Qatari side, Muftah Jassim Al Muftah, Engineer Ali Abdullah Al Abdullah, and Nasser Hassan Al Ansari and from the Bahraini side, Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa bin Ahmad Al Khalifa, Sheikh Mohammed bin Ali Al Khalifa, Dr Yousef Abdel Karim Mohammed and Engineer Raed Mohammed Al Salah.

Speaking prior to the signing of the agreement, Al Hammadi said that the MoU underscores a new drive in the constructive relations between Qatar and Bahrain.

He added that the causeway would contribute to strengthening ties between the two brotherly countries and their people.

The MoU, Al Hammadi pointed out, represents a general outline of all aspects related to the mega project with a final agreement to be reached within a period not exceeding four months which will include in-depth technical and engineering details of the project.

Later, Al Hammadi told a news conference that the project's total costs will be determined once the final designs of the causeway are completed, but estimated they would not exceed $2bn.

He noted that the 40km-long causeway will be one of the world's biggest which will comprise several traffic lanes, an emergency route, in addition to a railway line for high speed trains that will eventually link the capitals of the two countries.

The beginning of the causeway in Qatar will be located at Ras Ashairij area, five kilometers South of the city of Al Zubara, and a similar spot will be located North of Askar village in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Finally! Developer, contractor name, timeframe, everything seems to be there! Reading the articles I feel this is almost totally on Qatar's initiative and management...

Finally! Developer, contractor name, timeframe, everything seems to be there! Reading the articles I feel this is almost totally on Qatar's initiative and management...

I knew Vinci was going to win this contract like from a year ago! But, I think the deal is politically motivated to get more French Firms (aka Airbus) in the Qatai markets.

I merged this thread with the Doha-Manama Mangalev link since its the same project.

I merged this thread with the Doha-Manama Mangalev link since its the same project.

No Problem But even if this went underconstruction who the heck will go there and take pictures ? lol :lol: any how i dont see this topic going to becom a sticky ever

i think then we will depend on internet more and its updates.......

from raya news
http://i22.tinypic.com/2h2meit.jpg

I've seen this tendering note in www.qatartenders.com
Name : Causeway Construction Project (Continued) More...
Description : Construction of 40-kilometre causeway to link two cities comprising about 20 kilometres of bridges and 20 kilometres of embankments.
Territory : Qatar
Updated : August 12, 2007
Status : New Tender


Looks like half the bridge will be embankments!!

what are embarkments?

yeah what are embarkments ?

oh you mean thouse littel islands the bridge cross

oh you mean like thouse island the bridge cross i love thouse you can acctully put shops mosques and rest stops on them !

what are embarkments?

Embankments "dofan" reclaimed from the sea...

Check this link out. Very interesting article on the Qatar-Bahrain Causeway and its updated (http://www.itbhu.org/chronicle/archives/vkraina/Introduction-to-Bahrain-Qatar-Causeway-Sea-Link.pdf)

Nice ! thanks for the finding :D

Nice seems active (From the Bahraini Forum)
Stone to be laid for causeway
MANAMA

THE foundation stone for the Bahrain-Qatar Friendship Causeway will be laid soon. Preparations are in full swing for the ceremony in Bahrain.

It will be laid at the starting point of the causeway, north of Askar, said a report in our sister paper Akhbar Al Khaleej.

The final contract will be signed early next year, paving the way for the project to start in May in a deal costing an estimated $2 billion (BD756 million). It is expected to be completed by mid-2012.

A feasibility study on a parallel railway line is also being conducted. If approved, the overall cost of the project may soar to $7bn.

Once completed, it will be the longest fixed link measuring 40km, the highest point of which will be 40 metres. Half of the causeway will be across the sea.

^^ Half of the casuways will be on the sea??? And I am interested to see whether they will start construction from Bahrain, Qatar, or simultaneously and meet in the middle of the Bay.

What bay ? lolz i think most likel it will start in Bahrain :D

@halawala, Qatar will be paying for it all according to an article I read. I imagine it'd basically start from Qatar and end in Bahrain.

Taken from the Bahrain forum :D posted by Adel :)

Russian company to take part in Bahrain-Qatar Causeway

The Open Society Russian Railways (RZHD) in 2008 plans to participate in the tender for construction of the 40km.causeway between Bahrain and Qatar.
The RZHD carved out from the Russsian Ministry of Railways in 2003 with a sprawling railway network of 85,500 k.m. passed the prequalification stage and acquired the right to conduct civil works in Bahrain, according to Russia’s Analytical Information Agency, quoting the company’s Vice President Oleg Toni.
The Bahrain Qatar friendship bridge project was reportedly approved for construction on February 28, 2005, to link Bahrain near Manama to northwest Qatar near Zubarah as the longest fixed link in the world. A formal agreement between the two countries was signed on June 11, 2006 to form a company that would raise the necessary capital and initiate construction. It was announced on September 30, 2007 that construction should start within seven months and last 48 months. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Qatar and Bahrain Causeway Foundation and a consortium of companies led by French construction major Vinci Construction and Qatari Diar. RZHD also unveiled its plans for forays into railways construction in Iran, Algeria, Libya, Northern Korea, Bulgaria and several other countries. The plans come in the wake of the Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin announcing that Moscow hopes to have a rail link with Iran. “The rail link between Armenia and Iran is part of the north-south railway corridor and entering Iran via Armenia is a key part of this route for Russia,” he said. – Senior Business Reporter

http://i37.tinypic.com/2q3p5ys.jpg

http://i36.tinypic.com/v7bb5h.jpg

The article states "Completing this project in record time is an engineering feat" However, the real accomplishment here is STARTING this project!

2 Billion Euros

I bet....

Here's how it works in this region, place ludicrously low bid for project....start building get half way through.....Double budget.....wait.....Get more money and delay project by at least 2 years.

See also Doha International Airport.

This won't be finished till 2015 and for twice (at least) the current price

^^ if you didnt notice it will take 44 months to construct.....

lolz.. has any kind of work started ..??

Btw, i read something a week or so ago that i didn't like soo much..

It said King Fahad Causeway has a capacity, or serves like 40,000 cars crossing everyday... If i'm not mistaken..

However, it said the Qatar-Bahrain Causeway will only be able to serve 15,000 cars per day....

Not sure why that is... I should try looking up the article..

^^ well the bridge is only 2 lanes (4 lanes in total) thatmight be the reason....

And just how many lanes do u think the King Fahad Causeway is? ^^


(its 2 as well!)

folks dont u think having 2 lanes cud make problems..an accident could block the whole place.. hope it doesnt happen..

And just how many lanes do u think the King Fahad Causeway is? ^^


(its 2 as well!)


WHAT ! i thought it was 3..... that cant be right ?!

i think its four lines

It will be almost the same as K. Fahad Causeway only 2 lanes, plus space either below deck or on deck for a train.

i think its four lines

The KSA one or Qatar one ?

the Qatari one is 2 lanes.... i dont think the KSA one is 4......

but halawala is right acctually, i forgot that the train linking Doha to Manama via the bridge :D:cheers:

the KSA one is

Yes.. Both the KFC (I know, hahaha) and the Bahrain-Qatar Causeway are dual carriageways or two lanes in both directions.... But the Bahrain-Qatar one will be much longer obviously, much higher i think... More of a landmark... Plus, there'll need to be space SOMEWHERE for a future maglev or railway...

^^ if you clearly didnt notice there WILL be a track for a rail.... its part of Qatars masterplan

^^^^ I think the rail track will either be below or above the causeway.

Yes.. Both the KFC


Really I thought it was a restaurant, bayyyyyyyyyyy5a... I was going to mention the same LOOL!

2 Billion Euros

I bet....

Here's how it works in this region, place ludicrously low bid for project....start building get half way through.....Double budget.....wait.....Get more money and delay project by at least 2 years.

See also Doha International Airport.

This won't be finished till 2015 and for twice (at least) the current price

Deal signed with five firms for Qatar-Bahrain causeway

Doha • The 'Jissr Qatar-Bahrain' (Qatar-Bahrain Causeway) Foundation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a consortium of five international firms to build the causeway project.

The project is slated to begin seven months from now and is expected to be completed in 48 months.

Ambassador Dr Ahmed Hassan Al Hammadi, Board Chairman of Jissr Qatar-Bahrain Foundation, signed the agreement with Vinci Construction Gulf Area Manager Engineer Yanick Garillon representing the partnership between Qatari Diar and the French firm Vinci Construction and several other major international firms at a function held at Four Seasons Hotel on Thursday.

The signing ceremony was attended by board members of Qatar-Bahrain Causeway Foundation including, from the Qatari side, Muftah Jassim Al Muftah, Engineer Ali Abdullah Al Abdullah, and Nasser Hassan Al Ansari and from the Bahraini side, Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa bin Ahmad Al Khalifa, Sheikh Mohammed bin Ali Al Khalifa, Dr Yousef Abdel Karim Mohammed and Engineer Raed Mohammed Al Salah.

Speaking prior to the signing of the agreement, Al Hammadi said that the MoU underscores a new drive in the constructive relations between Qatar and Bahrain.

He added that the causeway would contribute to strengthening ties between the two brotherly countries and their people.

The MoU, Al Hammadi pointed out, represents a general outline of all aspects related to the mega project with a final agreement to be reached within a period not exceeding four months which will include in-depth technical and engineering details of the project.

Later, Al Hammadi told a news conference that the project's total costs will be determined once the final designs of the causeway are completed, but estimated they would not exceed $2bn.

He noted that the 40km-long causeway will be one of the world's biggest which will comprise several traffic lanes, an emergency route, in addition to a railway line for high speed trains that will eventually link the capitals of the two countries.

The beginning of the causeway in Qatar will be located at Ras Ashairij area, five kilometers South of the city of Al Zubara, and a similar spot will be located North of Askar village in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Nice seems active (From the Bahraini Forum)

And now the latest news:

Qatar-Bahrain causeway under design
Qatar: Monday, October 13 - 2008 at 10:46
The plans for the proposed Qatar-Bahrain causeway are currently at the design stage, The Peninsula has reported. Work is scheduled to begin in January and it is predicted that it will take 51 months to complete, with 70% of the work being undertaken in Qatar.



Dont you just hate the Qatari media! Aviduser was right, it will be over-budget and will finsih in like a 100 years!

70% of work undertaken by Qatar ?? i am pretty sure it will become 100% soon....

halawala plz tell me, they r going to start project near the fort of al zubaraa, and when the new doha to shamaal highway complete.

halawala plz tell me, they r going to start project near the fort of al zubaraa, and when the new doha to shamaal highway complete.

Yes, its near Zubara City (ruins) and the new Highway is done in phases. I bleive the next phase from Doha to Alkhore will finish next year, while the other phases from Al-Khor to Al-Shamal and Zubara will finish in 2010, I think.

http://www.iloveqatar.net/images/logo.png

70% of work undertaken by Qatar ?? i am pretty sure it will become 100% soon....

There is a difference between 70% undertaken in Qatar as mentioned by the news and 70% by Qatar as you said. They are not talking about financing

Qatar will lend Bahrain 50% ($350 Mill) of the Qatar Bahrain Causeway Company capital :) . It's a 50/50 joint venture.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=155039&page=4

If this is even started next year if ever, the present financial climate is going to make it awefully difficult for Qatar to raise the finances for this project.

Dubai's debt was recently downgraded and the cost to insure doubled. The same could possibly happen to Qatar.

If the airport is any thing to go by then chances are this will cost AT LEAST double the projections, it's a MASSIVE project. The good news is that much of the area is very shallow but two massive bridges still have to be constructed. I would estimate that each bridge will take at least 4 years, obviously they will be built at the same time so I say 5 years for both, add in the highways and sandbanks etc and at the very least you are looking at 7-8 Years.

I expect it to start IF it does in 2010, you simply cannot hand out a contract to someone and ask them to build it.

Furthermore if the project is supposedly 70% Qatar run I can only presume that means the base for the company that will build it will be here. How many companies have the experience to build such a large project. If you take this into account a firm such as ARUP will have to hire,relocate and house a large staff in Qatar of engineers and project managers, with this in mind you can see that even 2010 is optimistic.

And remember we are in a Country that moves at THEIR pace not the World's

Qatar will lend Bahrain 50% ($350 Mill) of the Qatar Bahrain Causeway Company capital :) . It's a 50/50 joint venture.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=155039&page=4

The main delay and the only reason for the delay is the financial and poltiical aspects of the company. The designs were finalized and completed like maybe 8 years ago. However, since the financial aspect is made and work is to begin in January, I am optimistic. However, $350 m. is hardly a fraction of the total cost--much less than 50%. I wonder how they are going to fund the rest. I would assume Qatar would then take all the profits of the causeway until Bahrain paid off its debt.

^^ The company capital is $700Mil, $350Mil is half of it which is Bahrain share. Paying for the project is a different thing. The causeway company may resort to debt or issuing shares or even privatisation, the thing is it will all be through the Bahrain Qatar Causeway Establishment.

So, this 700m$ is not going to be used for paying the project? Im not very good in economics!

Yes it is going to pay for part of the project + Managment costs + salaries of workers in the company ++++, the rest of the project cost will have to be raised by the company somehow in the future, and there are several ways to do that.

I`m board with this project !!! I don`t even check this thread anymore, too long and nothing happened yet...

Home News

Friendship Causeway group lines up programme manager

* Published: 10 October 2008 21:20
* Author:Colin Foreman | More by this Author
* Last Updated: 10 October 2008 21:20
*

The US' KBR with UK-based Halcrow has been selected as the preferred bidder to provide programme management services on the $2bn project to build a causeway between Qatar and Bahrain.

great news...

Check this out ! the bridge is going to be 4 lanes instead of 2 "thankgod"!! alhamdulilah...

US-based firm bags Qatar-Bahrain Causeway project


DOHA: A leading US-based company has been awarded a contract by the Qatar-Bahrain Causeway Foundation to provide design, project and construction management services for the Qatar-Bahrain road and rail marine crossing.

Dr Ahmed Hassan Al Hammadi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Foundation, said KBR, a leading global engineering, construction and services company, was selected after two rounds of competitive tendering from among five international companies that had expressed an interest in the project.

Dubbed the “Friendship Bridge,” the Qatar-Bahrain Causeway is symbolic of the long-standing, positive relations between the two countries. Once complete, the causeway will be the world’s longest marine causeway, connecting the two countries from the west coast of Qatar, near the Zubarah fortress, to the east coast of Bahrain, south of its capital Manama.

The causeway will be a four-lane, 40 kilometre highway corridor consisting of roadway sections on reclaimed embankment and natural islands, low-level bridge structures and signature suspension bridges.

The project also includes freight and passenger rail lines, providing a direct connection for high-speed freight and passenger rail traffic between Qatar and Bahrain. It is envisioned that the railway will eventually be extended in each direction connecting Istanbul, Turkey to Muscat, Oman, and become the main rail link for the Middle East Gulf coast countries.

“KBR is honoured to be selected as the project manager for this significant bi-national transportation infrastructure project,” said Bruce Stanski, KBR President, Government & Infrastructure. “I am confident that, working in partnership with the QBC Foundation, KBR’s expertise and unwavering commitment to our client will lead to the successful completion of this long awaited project.”

The Qatar Bahrain Foundation is a bi-national institution created in 2006 by the Emir

H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and the King of Bahrain, H M Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa for the purpose of developing and managing the causeway project.

No ^^ its 4 lanes, two each side :D

^^ oh pickles :bash:..... why did it have to be 2 each side !!! its too.....small !!!! and trucks will mostly occupy the right lane so one lane left for cars !!! wtf

Most of the bridges are two lanes, i dont see the problem. it's for a short trip and the cost already high.

^^ its the longest bridge in the world for gods sake !!

Bahrain link work from Jan

CONSTRUCTION of the Qatar-Bahrain Causeway is scheduled to begin early next month, a local Arabic daily reported.
The report quotes the board chairman of the Qatar-Bahrain Causeway Foundation , Ahmed Hasan al-Hammadi, who was speaking in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
Al-Hammadi said that work on the marine and geological survey besides soil testing has been on since May and the actual civil works will begin in January.
The 40km-long causeway is expected to be completed by mid-2013.
The volume of traffic on the causeway is predicted to be around 10,000 to 12,000 vehicles per day.
The entry point from Qatar will be at Ras Eshayrij which is 5km from Zubara. On the Bahrain side it will be at Askar village.
The causeway will consist of 22 bridges over the sea and 18 over reclaimed land. It will have a twin carriageway on each side besides an emergency exit and pavements for pedestrians for the entire length.
A memorandum of understanding has been signed between QCBF and a consortium led by Qatari Diar and the French-owned construction firm Vinci.
The most significant aspect of the project is that it will provide both road and rail connections, said al-Hammadi.

I will eat my hat if this starts in Jan, I am guessing that the money for this project no longer exists, watch this space.

^^ Save some of your hat for me! :P

Why the negativity?

They've been planning it for a million years.. And lately, the announcements and news are getting more consistent.. Between Bahrain, n Qatar... They mentioned it would start in January a few months ago in Bahrain too..

Consistency and repition in the news is a good sign... As opposed to dates that change all the time, from one announcement to the next...

So i have a feeling that its going to finally go ahead as planned.. By Jan/Feb..

^^They said the same thing, that is will finish before Asian 2006 Games. Then, they said it will begin right after the games. Then, they said they will start in the beggining of 2008, and now January 2009 with the DESIGNS, whcih were done like 10 years ago!

@avid, if it doesn't start, it's not because they don't have the money.

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Bahrain starts work on $3b causeway

http://gulfnews.com/images/09/01/04/05_bz_bahrain_qatar_bridge_4.jpg


his undated computer generated image released by French construction company Vinci SA shows the project of a bridge between Bahrain and Qatar.


Staff Report
Published: January 04, 2009, 23:35

Manama: The Bahrain government on Sunday said that the new $3 billion (Dh11 billion) Friendship Causeway, linking the country with Qatar, will be the longest in the world.

The new causeway, construction work for which has already started, is expected to boost the economy of the island nation.

Billed as the world's longest marine causeway, the new link will be one of the most important infrastructure projects in the region. Once the bridge is completed in about four years' time, it will boast more than 40km of twin carriageway, running across 22km of viaducts over the sea and 18km of embankments.

Travel time between Bahrain and Qatar by car is expected to be reduced from the current four-and-a-half hours to around 30 minutes.

Shaikh Mohammad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa, chief executive of Bahrain's Economic Development Board (EDB), yesterday hailed the start of the construction of the Friendship Causeway in the New Year. This new link will help boost Bahrain's role as an ideal access point for international companies to develop their businesses in the Gulf.

Shaikh Mohammad said: "The Friendship Causeway will strengthen Bahrain's position as the best place in the Middle East for companies to develop their businesses across all Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) economies. As a location for international companies, Bahrain is one of the most mature and well established free markets in this rapidly growing economic region".

"Bahrain has a strong history of working closely with our neighbours and it is already linked by the very successful King Fahad Causeway to Saudi Arabia.

"The completion of this second causeway will be a welcome addition to Bahrain's impressive air, sea and road links and will provide many new opportunities for companies based in Bahrain to further develop their businesses, not only in Qatar but right across the GCC."

The causeway will also provide a connection for future high-speed freight and passenger rail lines between the countries. There are also plans to extend the route to link Istanbul and Turkey to Muscat in Oman.

EDB is a public agency with an overall responsibility for formulating and overseeing the economic development strategy of Bahrain and for creating the right climate to attract direct investment into the Kingdom.

The Bahrain EDB is also responsible for attracting inward investments.

http://gulfnews.com/business/General/10272600.html

so, we can finally say its U\C :D:D:D

http://www.iloveqatar.net/images/logo.png

أمور مالية تؤخر بناء جسر المحبة //البحرين-قطر

من جريده "الوسط" البحرينيه 9/1/2009


الوسط - عبدالله الملا

أفاد الأمين العام لمؤسسة جسر البحرين - قطر «جسر المحبة» نايف العمادي أن تاريخ البدء النهائي في المشروع لم يحدد حتى الآن، بعد أن كان مخططاً له أن يبدأ في يناير/ كانون الثاني الجاري. وأضاف العمادي «حالياً السوق في تدنٍّ مستمر وعلينا أن نراجع سعر المشروع وبعض القضايا الأخرى المرتبطة به».

ولفت العمادي إلى أن المشروع لم يتأخر حتى الآن، والآمال لا تزال معقودة على بدء تهيئة الموقع مع نهاية يناير الجاري.

وتأتي هذه التصريحات من الجانب القطري بشكل مفاجئ في وقت كانت التصريحات من الجانب البحريني تشير إلى بدء العمل في المشروع، ولاسيما بعد أن وزّع الرئيس التنفيذي لمجلس التنمية الاقتصادية الشيخ محمد بن عيسى آل خليفة الأسبوع الماضي بياناً صحافياً أثنى فيه على بدء إنشاء «جسر المحبة» في رأس السنة الجديدة، ووصفه بأنه سيشكل دفعة للدور البحريني في المنطقة إذ سيجعل من البلاد مدخلاً مثالياً للشركات العالمية لتطوير أعمالها التجارية في الأسواق الخليجية.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


العمادي: السوق في تدنٍّ مستمر وعلينا مراجعة سعر المشروع

بدء إنشاء جسر البحرين - قطر في يناير الجاري أمر مستبعد

الوسط - عبدالله الملا

استبعد مصدر مسئول بدء عملية إنشاء جسر البحرين - قطر (جسر المحبة) الذي سيربط بين مملكة البحرين ودولة قطر وفق الجدول المخطط لها، ولفت المصدر إلى أن تاريخ بدء المشروع يأتي لإعادة تقدير سعر إنشاء المشروع.

وأوضح الأمين العام لمؤسسة جسر المحبة نايف العمادي أن تاريخ البدء النهائي في المشروع لم يحدد بعد، فيما كان مخططاً له أن يبدأ في يناير/ كانون الثاني الجاري. وأضاف العمادي «حالياً السوق في تدني مستمر وعلينا أن نراجع سعر المشروع وبعض القضايا الأخرى المرتبطة بهذا المشروع».

وقال: «نحن في انتظار الاتحاد المالي ليعطينا المبلغ المحدد للمشروع ومن ثم سيكون بمقدرونا أن ندخل في مفاوضات بشأن السعر النهائي، وهذا السبب الذي يجعلنا غير متأكدين من تاريخ بدء الإنشاءات». ولفت العمادي إلى أن المشروع لم يتأخر حتى الآن، والآمال لاتزال معقودة على بدء تهيئة الموقع مع نهاية يناير الجاري.

وتأتي هذه التصريحات من الجانب القطري بشكل مفاجئ في وقت كانت التصريحات من الجانب البحريني تشير إلى بدء العمل في المشروع، إذ وزع الرئيس التنفيذي لمجلس التنمية الاقتصادية الشيخ محمد بن عيسى آل خليفة خلال الأسبوع الماضي بياناً صحافياً أثنى فيه على بدء إنشاء «جسر المحبة» في رأس السنة الجديدة، الجسر الذي سيربط بين كل من البحرين وقطر، ووصفه بأنه سيشكل دفعة للدور البحريني في المنطقة إذ سيجعل من البلاد مدخلاً مثالياً للشركات العالمية لتطوير أعمالها التجارية في الأسواق الخليجية.

oh for gods sake !!

^^BTW Any news about Qatar Son 333 ???

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Causeway work delayed

http://www.gulf-times.com/mritems/images/2009/1/20/2_267692_1_252.jpg
Architect’s impression of the Qatar-Bahrain Causeway

WORK on the $3bn, 40km Qatar-Bahrain Causeway, originally due to begin this month, is now set to start this summer with a five-year timeline.
“The delay is to incorporate provisions for passenger and freight rail tracks,” Qatari Diar Vinci Construction chief executive officer Gerald Mille said.
He was giving an overview of QDVC’s projects in the country, at MEED’s two-day Qatar Projects 2009 conference that got underway yesterday.
“It was in August last year that we received the directive to include railway tracks as part of the causeway,” Mille recalled.
There will be two rail tracks on the left side of the causeway, one for a passenger train with a maximum speed of 160km/hr and the other for a 120km/hr freight train.
“The inclusion of the rail tracks necessitated the relocation of the navigation channel also,” he said.
The main bridges are of bowstring structure. The causeway, described as the world’s longest linking two countries, is to stretch from Qatar’s Ras Ushairjj, just 5km from Zubarah to Bahrain’s Askar village.
The environmental impact assessment of the causeway had started in 2002, Mille pointed out while adding that 150 engineers are working on the project.
In another presentation, Ashghal’s senior consultant (engineering) Mohamed Ali Yousef Darwish stated that work is scheduled to start this year on a north road from Zubarah to Ras Ushairjj.
“This road will be connected to the Qatar-Bahrain Causeway,” he added.
QDVC is a joint venture between Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company and France’s Vinci Construction Grands Projects with the former holding a 51% stake.

^^ its bad enough that its delayed, its even worse that the track is on "one" side of the bridgewhich dose not look nice ! if it was between the lanes like 2 lanes to Bahrain then the tracks then 2 lanes to Qatar would have been much better. but then again.... maybe its supposed to be like that...........

^^ I think the project will not see light. THere has been too many delays, and design changes. Im not excited about this anymore. I dont see how they could possibly start work this summer!

http://www.iloveqatar.net/images/logo.png

Agree on this part. other than having rail tracks to Bahrain. I don't really see the point anymore.

Avid, actually from an economic and social point of view I think the project makes sense--but it will actually benifit Bahrain more though since a lot of low-inclome Bahrainis who already work here can work in Qatar and return home in the same day. It might hurt the real estate sector a bit since people have the option to live across the border. One hour driving time including the border crossing is not a big deal to drive daily--one direction.

However, we can use it at our advantage since more people can choose to work in Qatar and trade no doubt will significantly increase.

Plus, there are many people who die in the dangerous roads going to Bahrain in Saudi Arabia, and this bridge will significanltly improve traffic between the two nations.

It might also help Qatar Airways since people now the options to fly to Doha, or to drive to Doha Airport for their ownwards connections--since many people prefer QR over Gulf Air or neighboring Saudi Airlines, which has very few international destinations out of Dammam.

I think the two countries have to sign on a bilateral agreement which unifies the borders between the two countries and istead have just a toll system in order to facilitiate the process of cross border movement.

But economically speaking, the project i think might break-even-IF NOT even become a profitable--but serious work has to be done.

but question is that.... why they dont want to start this project...... still on the paper note...no physical effort....

^^ I think the delay is because they want to get cheaper bids from contractors cos building materials have gone down dramatically.

Regarding economical feasibility, it's feasible, and if you add to that the possible future link from Doha to Abu Dhabi and the planned GCC rail link, it even makes more sense.

correction, Qatar - Abudhabi (Emirate) link, it would be crazy to link Doha to Abudhabi (city) !!

but yeah the GCC rail does make sense

http://www.iloveqatar.net/images/logo.png

I agree that Bahraini's could come and work here but we are entering a new economic age and I just can't see there being the jobs here for them. Are they going to want to work as construction workers and Taxi drivers ?

Plus I can't see people wanting to employ them, companies here use sponsorship as a way of controlling their ex-pat populations I doubt the Bhariaini's would be sponsored. And we all know the sponsorship thing will remain in the region for a LONG time.

Most taxi drivers in Bahrain are Bahrainis, and believe me there is a very large number of Bahrainis already working here in Qatar, and it's an increasing trend, with or without bridge.

And as for the train, NEVER EVER EVER gonna happen there is NO WAY all these countries could possibly organise themselves

That sounds a bit colonialistic...anyways...

If I was one of the firms involved there would be only ONE way I would build this and that would be a MASSIVE up front payment equivalent to at least 80% of the estimated cost, PLUS a guaranteed of all over-run costs and NO penalty for over-runs and a BIG bonus for early completion.

It doesnt exist in the real world.

As the money no longer exists for this, finally and most definitely NOT GONNA HAPPEN

It's definitely gonna happen.
It doesn't surprise me anymore that State of Qatar orders re-engineering or re-design or whatever to some State-owned contractor (here a Qatari Diar JV). Engineering and consultancy is the best order these firms can dream of, high margins and no risk, it has been the same old technique on many projects in the country (NDIA, Education City). Everybody in the project is eventually happy with variation orders, that's just sad for the final user.

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Avid, I understand your concerns, especially on the administrative part, it will take some time before people are able to move freely from one Gulf country to the other, particularly for non-GCC citizens... I dont see the point of having a train, which is supposed to make things more simple and convenient, if you still have to request these exit visas and stuff :ohno: This project has to come up in the framework of a Qatar & Bahrain bilateral agreement on movement of people and goods if they want this project to be a real success.

However on a technical point of view, I dont see why this project would not see light, the contractor is already appointed (Vinci, largest construction company in the world by revenue), which has engineering offices set up in Doha with a good track record on its other projects here... once the State of Qatar has finally stopped ordering some redesigns and reredesigns, which is the source of the delay, work can start on that day. Dont ask me when that is though ;)

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Totally agreed, the borders would have to disappear so the only border is the Saudi one, the train is an additional unwarranted expense, no doubt some flash US consultant has tried to add this on to make more cash, stupid Idea.

Technically I agree that this could go ahead environmental factors favour the construction, the Sea is pretty shallow between the two Countries. If it was me I would be trying to get rid of one of the bridges. They say they are building the huge bridges for shipping ?! I am pretty sure the only port in Bahrain is up north. Is there an LNG port that far down in Qatar ? seems a bit pointless to me it's no really a major seaway, or am I wrong. Either way one shorter higher bridge could save huge costs.

But, the train is part of a long-term approach to connect all GCC states by train. It will not serve mainly DOH-BAH, but eventually UAE-BAH-KUWAIT-and so on. Bridges are nessessary for water movement accross the Gulf of Bahrain and I think there is a major port (major in a Qatari way) of Dukhan below there.

Rummer circulating in Bahrain that the Causeway is cancelled. Anybody heard anything in Doha?

no, no not cancelled, work will start in 6 months... read it somewhere in the news

Yes I don't believe the rummer, the news says the cost will be adjusted but I was wondering if anything new arose because of the financial crisis.

^^ here on the other side of the sea, there is no financial crisis :D however there is a really large one in Dubai !

^^ here on the other side of the sea, there is no financial crisis :D however there is a really large one in Dubai !


yeah Dubai got effected by the crisis for sure, but then again all financial hubs got effected. you know whats the good thing though, is that the infustructure in Dubai is taken care off, roads, airport, metro, ports etc. Thank god, Qatar did not get hit as much. but i was shocked to read this:

Qatar sees huge hike in abandoned cars
by Joanna HartleyThis email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Sunday, 15 February 2009

CARS ABANDONED: Doha has seen a surge in the number of cars left unclaimed on its streets. (Getty Images)Doha has seen a 791 percent increase in the number of cars being abandoned on its streets and outskirts, it was reported on Sunday.

The city’s municipality has revealed that in January this year 1,448 vehicles were deemed to be left unclaimed.

This is a huge hike on the 183 found abandoned in January 2008, according to local Arabic daily Arrayah and reported in Qatar daily Gulf Times.

A designated yard for abandoned vehicles was full to capacity, director of Doha Municipality, Ibrahim Al Malky told the newspaper.

Story continues below ↓
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“There is practically no space left because vehicles are already stockpiled one over the other,” he revealed.

There was an urgent need for a coordinated effort to allocate a new areas for the cars, Al Malky added.

No reason for the increase was given.

However, the findings come a week after Dubai’s authorities denied that it was seeing more cars abandoned at the airport as a result of expatriates fleeing the UAE on the back of the economic crisis.

Only 11 cars had been left at Dubai International Airport in over a year, confirmed lieutenant general Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, chief of the Dubai police department.

Clarification on the number of abandoned cars came after repeated local and international media reports that the figure had hit 3,000.

The municipal officials in Doha dealing with public hygiene and cleanliness periodically monitor the number vehicles found abandoned on the city streets.

They place stickers on such vehicles and photographs are taken and forwarded to the public cleanliness department which is responsible for removing them to the junkyard.

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/546749-qatar-sees-huge-hike-in-abandoned-cars

^^ since when did they start counting abandoned cars in Qatar? lol. If they do, they will find loads but trust me, most have not been abandoned recently... I know what I'm talking about, I had to leave my car on the side of the road after an accident, and was given a new one as replacement. I was told it would be towed away...but the car is still there as of today..lol. And this accident happened.. in early 2008! Welcome to Qatar :-)

they started counting this year, well they did right it in the news 4-5 times

I think thats not associated with the crises, there were many abondoned cars before.

its not connected to the crisis, these are cars left from way BEFORE the crisis.

these are cars that NORMALLY look really old with alot of dust on them..... i really wish they just collect them somewhere in Messied where they could be recycled etc etc...

You guys requested this thread, amnesia I think.

^^ Acctually Aviduser...

Delayed again with 1 Billion Dollar redesign.

lol is it? Source?

Soon it's going to cost 10 billion dollars for this bridge.

It was in some steel construction magazine, see also an arabic item in the bharain forum. its all to do with the TRAIN FFS. Still dont think this will be built in our lifetimes.

This project is simply weird! They keep announcing construction dates and redesigns like 20 times a year! I mean, when they first propsed this project like the late 90s, they already mentioned a train link.

Personally, its not the redesigns that is delayuing the project. It is financing. ie who is going to pay for the project. Period.

^^ In the end its going to be us... No ?? since most of the projects in Bahrain are financed and built by KSA but not in this case where they arnt supporting the building of this bridge...

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/551836-qatar-bahrain-bridge-slated-for-2013-completion

WHOA! that's a BIG bridge. :D

^^ In the end its going to be us... No ?? since most of the projects in Bahrain are financed and built by KSA but not in this case where they arnt supporting the building of this bridge...

Nope not KSA it's Kuwaiti banks and financial institutions, and it's not charity cos they make loads of profit. Kuwaitis know where to invest, they are very shrewd.

Saudis come second and now Emiraties are joining them.

^^ In the end its going to be us... No ?? since most of the projects in Bahrain are financed and built by KSA but not in this case where they arnt supporting the building of this bridge...

Qatar is giving Bahrain a loan with interest to cover it's share in building the bridge. That means they are sharing the costs, and with all the money Qatar lost in Europe and America, this investment (loaning Bahrain) may be one of their better ones.

KSA built the King Fahad bridge and all the returns from it goes to the KSA and they are making good money from it.

Qatar-Bahrain Friendship Bridge finally approved
Qatar-Bahrain Friendship Bridge finally approved



A bridge that will link Qatar and Bahrain has finally been approved, after years of being stalemated in its developmental stages, The Media Line reported. The bridge, which will span 40km, will significantly reduce travel time between Qatar and Bahrain: the journey presently takes about five hours and requires a trip to Saudi Arabia, but via the bridge it will take 30 minutes. The Qatar-Bahrain Friendship Bridge will begin in Raas Asheerj, Qatar, and will end in North Askar, Bahrain. The bridge will be an extension of the already-existing King Fahd causeway, which links Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.


What's new!! LOOL!

approved ? wasnt it approved before ?? i thought they were already doing environmental studies etc etc...

Qatar-Bahrain causeway to have railway bridge

DOHA: The proposed Qatar-Bahrain causeway will have a railway bridge as well. The rail bridge is a new addition to the mega Doha-Manama over-sea link project and that is why the venture’s implementation is being delayed, said Ali Al Abdullah, director of Planning at the Ministry of Muncipality and Urban Planning.

It is the decision of the GCC leaders to add the rail bridge to the proposed Qatar-Bahrain causeway as part of broader plans to have a regional rail link. Completing the design of the rail bridge has taken time but work on the entire causeway project is eventually slated to begin by the year-end or start of 2010.

Accommodations for workers have already been built and 500 workers have been hired for the causeway project, Ali Al Abdullah told QNA

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And how many times have we heard that ???

http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/5953/19012010221.jpg

http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/8060/19012010220.jpg

Thanks for the article. I have read it somewhere before. I think it was Qatar Tribune. But, they attributed the delay in the construction to the redesign of the bridge as it was being altered to also have train tracks. However, the train tracks are on a separate track from the bridge, so the bridge essentialy can stay at the same slope. Weird really!

^^ How about you think again about what you said about the car bridge slope and the rail bridge staying the same. Hint: why is the car bridge sloped in the first place? does it have to do with ships going back and forth?

^^ yes at the place where the huge arch sits... thats where they pass under.

^^ How about you think again about what you said about the car bridge slope and the rail bridge staying the same. Hint: why is the car bridge sloped in the first place? does it have to do with ships going back and forth?

I know what your saying, but it wont make a difference to the ships passing underneath the bridge, as the old design is 6% I think, which is steeper than the new design.

The estimated $4bn Qatar-Bahrain Causeway project is on hold and the contracting consortium involved with the project is demobilising.Read the full MEEd story here: http://www.meed.com/sectors/transport/roads/qatar-bahrain-causeway-on-hold/3006975.article

:nuts::nuts:The estimated $4bn Qatar-Bahrain Causeway project is on hold and the contracting consortium involved with the project is demobilising.Read the full MEEd story here: http://www.meed.com/sectors/transport/roads/qatar-bahrain-causeway-on-hold/3006975.article

Why am I not suprised! :nuts: Was it ever NOT on hold?

=S more delays....

The estimated $4bn Qatar-Bahrain Causeway project is on hold and the contracting consortium involved with the project is demobilising.Read the full MEEd story here: http://www.meed.com/sectors/transport/roads/qatar-bahrain-causeway-on-hold/3006975.article

amazing to see how fast the price drops from $4bn to $3bn :cheers:

Bahrain, Qatar postpones $3bn bridge again
Monday, 7 June 2010 at 15:35, Reuters, Manama/Doha

A long-planned $3 billion bridge linking Bahrain and Qatar has been put on hold and the project team scaled back, sources close to the project said, amid escalating costs and increased political tension.

The 40-kilometre causeway linking gas exporter Qatar to the island kingdom of Bahrain was set to play a key role in improving infrastructure connections between members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), but has been beset by problems.

The project, first announced in 2001, had already been delayed in 2008 to change the project scope to include trains, and late last year the countries said work would start in the first quarter and be completed by 2015.

That fresh date came and went, however, and the project prospects were further dampened in May, when Bahrain said Qatar's coast guard shot and wounded a Bahraini fisherman who had entered Qatari waters.

"The project has seen many, many problems (and there were) also the political tensions," a source close to the project told Reuters, adding "the team has been significantly decreased."

http://english.alrroya.com/content/bahrain-qatar-postpones-3bn-bridge-again

so its political instability ?