Qatar-Bahrain "Friendship" Causeway (Longest Causeway in the world)

[nazrey]

Qatar Bahrain Causeway

Other name(s):	Qatar Bahrain Friendship Bridge
Carries:	Motor vehicle and Rail
Crosses:	Persian Gulf
Locale:	        Bahrain and  Qatar
Maintained by:	Qatar and Bahrain Causeway Foundation
Total length:	40 km (25 mi)

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar_Bahrain_Causeway

[Mr.Underground]

Did the works start or no?

Do you confirm that the end of the works is planned for the end of 2013?

[hkskyline]

Bridge linking Bahrain, Qatar to go ahead - minister

DOHA, Jan 13 (Reuters) - A long-planned 40-kilometre causeway linking Qatar, set to host soccer's 2022 World Cup, and the Gulf Arab island state of Bahrain will be built and the cost may need to be lowered, Bahrain's foreign minister said.

"It is a must for both countries, even without the World Cup," Sheikh Khaled bin Ahmed al-Khalifa told reporters on Thursday, without giving a time-frame for the project.

"This is one economic market, one economic zone that should be well-connected, and the bridge is an integral part of that ... It is inevitable," he said.

Sources close to the project had said in June it would be delayed due to escalating costs and political wrangling between the countries.

Qatar's successful bid to host the World Cup may have provided new momentum. The bridge would help Qatar manage heavy traffic during the World Cup as nearby Bahrain could absorb some of the tourist inflow in its hotels.

Qatar plans to spend over $50 billion in infrastructure, including roads, commercial projects and airports ahead of the World Cup.

Sheikh Khalifa said pricing for the project, which will be split 50-50, would need to be reviewed, as the initial cost was set before the global economic crisis.

"The question is when, and at what cost ... It was initially priced at $3 billion, but we are trying to bring it down."

A joint Bahrain-Qatar committee meeting will take place next month, and progress will be discussed then, he said.

The causeway linking the world's top liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter Qatar to 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.

Tensions were stoked last year over Bahrain's nominee for Secretary General for the six-state GCC, Mohammad al-Mutawa.

Mutawa played an influential role in Bahrain's territorial dispute with Qatar over the Hawar islands, which the World Court awarded to Bahrain in 2001.

The bridge 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.

Contractors for the project include French group Vinci , German company Hochtief , Qatari Diar Real Estate and Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC).

[GoldenPark™]

Qatar-Bahrain causeway to be ready by 2015

Doha: The total cost of Qatar-Bahrain Causeway, one of the longest bridges in the world, is likely to be in the tune of $5bn, which will be the largest amount of money spend on any causeway, said a Bahraini source.

Construction work of the causeway is expected to start before the end of 2011 and conclude in 2015. The causeway will be the most costly strategic project at world standards, said the source requesting anonymity, to Al Wasat newspaper of Bahrain.

Construction plans were delayed many times for new designs and amendments were introduced to the project. The total cost is between $ 4-5.5bn and expected to rise to $5bn to meet the cost of new designs, construction materials and other development projects, said the source of the body in charge of implementation of the project.

Qatar–Bahrain causeway is of 40km length including four vehicle lanes and two railways. Consortium of Al Diyar Real Estate Company, Vinci Grand Projects, French Contracting Company, German Hochtief Company, Consolidated Contractors International Company in Greece and Middle East Dredging Company, will be in charge of construction work, the daily said.

Qatar, rich in oil and gas, is expected to provide the bulk of the cost beside Bahrain, according to bankers. Construction works in the causeway linking Qatar to Bahrain is expected to finish in 4-5 years. The causeway starts from Askar village located in the eastern side of Bahrain Island to Ras Ishairij in Qatar.

The causeway construction will help achieve economic integration and sustainable development between the two states. More investments from Qatar in terms of real estate and stock market will be attracted to revive business and development of eastern and south-east areas in Bahrain.

Transport costs and services and commodities values will be reduced in the long run. About 4,000 vehicles are expected to pass daily through the causeway after completion and the figure is expected to rise to 12,000 by 2050.

Bahrain has run a study to assess the impact of traffic heading from Qatar. Huwar street at the north of Askar village, and Sheikh Jabber Al Ahmad Al Subah road and Sheikh Issa bin Salman road were developed in this regard.

The Peninsula

[TEBC]

great!! would be nice to if bahrein also host the WC 22

[TEBC]

Any news?

[TEBC]

nothing?

[NFZANMNIM]

Probably stopped due to unrest in Bahrain.

[TEBC]

here

Originally Posted by TEBC

Experts gather to advance region's infrastructural development plans
Qatar: Wednesday, November 14 - 2012 at 09:58PRESS RELEASE



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To help mobilise the Gulf's plans for infrastructural advancement, a second series of lectures at the fifth annual 'Bridges Middle East' summit took place. Held at the Ritz-Carlton in Doha, specialists from the region presented case studies examining complexities of specific transportation networks in countries neighboring Qatar.


Dr. Maher Abouseif, former adviser to the Minister of the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning in the Kingdom of Bahrain, opened the conference with his proposal for improving the country's infrastructure.

Titled 'Connecting Bahrain with the GCC infrastructure network,' the presentation described the Qatar Bahrain Causeway project that intends to build a causeway bridge between Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

The idea is currently in its planning stage but, if implemented, is hoped to provide more accessibility for residential and industrial growth in Bahrain's northern areas, many of which are difficult to drive to through the country's existing road network. Functional and environmental considerations were also highlighted.

"We need to think about the amount of people and traffic for this project, for example we could expect more than 10,000 cars coming out of Diyar Al Muharraq, an extremely small 32 square kilometer space of land currently under development in northern Bahrain. There has been no proper expansion of road systems that can serve this area and link it up to the causeway, issues like this must be examined before submitting this proposal to Bahrain authorities," explained Dr. Maher.

"And without expansion in these areas we will not be able to accommodate the population, which will double in 15 years' time, if it continues to grow as it is now at five% yearly. I hope this project is seriously considered for implementation," he added.

While Bahrain is tackling its own challenges to advance infrastructure and accommodate the growing number of cars, the United Arab Emirates views improving public transportation as fundamental for relieving traffic.

Mr. Abdul Ghaffar Chaudhry, Chief Engineer of the Strategic Planning Department and Corporate Governance for the Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai gave a lecture to explain the country's strategic transportation plan.

"We are working to achieve our long term eight strategic goals of our corporate plan, which include meeting individual transport mode plans for buses, railways and taxis across Dubai," said Mr. Abdul. "This will help the city improve in the long term because people will be more likely to use the public transportation system and, ultimately, take better care of the environment," he added.

A case study of Dubai's floating bridge was also presented. Proposed due to the demands of urban and economic growth in 2005, the country experienced debilitating traffic congestion. Currently in use, the bridge is equipped with special light weight concrete able to float on water and unique piles that control the structure's horizontal and vertical alignment.

Potential ship collision, safety measures and design considerations were also clarified. Mr. Abdul also noted the importance of sparking behavioral and cultural change in Dubai through awareness campaigns to help the community adopt environmentally friendly habits and foster a sustainable future.

To wrap up the two day conference endorsed by Ashghal, a number of other discussions took place exploring bridge design, construction and management.

http://www.ameinfo.com/experts-gathe...lopment-318876