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| Bahrain Causeway | |
|---|---|
| Name | Bahrain Causeway |
| Location | Muharraq Island, Bahrain — Khobar, Saudi Arabia |
| Opened | Proposed |
| Length | 40 km (proposed) |
| Status | Proposed / planned |
| Type | Road bridge / causeway |
| Owner | Government of Bahrain / Kingdom of Saudi Arabia |
| Designer | Various international consortia |
| Builder | Multiple contractors |
Bahrain Causeway is a proposed fixed link between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia intended to supplement the existing King Fahd Causeway and to enhance regional connectivity across the Persian Gulf. The project has been discussed in the context of trilateral initiatives involving GCC, bilateral accords between Manama and Riyadh, and broader plans tied to Kingdom Vision 2030 and Bahrain Economic Vision 2030.
The causeway concept aims to link Muharraq Island and other Bahraini islands to the eastern provinces of Saudi Arabia, notably Eastern Province and cities such as Dammam, Khobar, and Al Khobar. Proponents have framed it alongside regional infrastructure projects like Gulf Railway, King Fahd Causeway, and proposals tied to Saudi–Bahrain relations, United States–Gulf relations, and China–Gulf cooperation platforms. Stakeholders have included the Ministry of Works, Municipalities and Urban Planning (Bahrain), Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services (Saudi Arabia), sovereign wealth funds such as Mumtalakat and Public Investment Fund (Saudi Arabia), and international lenders like the Islamic Development Bank.
Initial discussions trace to the early 21st century when leaders from Bahrain and Saudi Arabia explored enhanced fixed links following the 1986 opening of the King Fahd Causeway. Diplomatic exchanges between monarchs — including the Al Khalifa family and the Al Saud — and cabinet-level talks involved agencies such as the Gulf Cooperation Council, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, and consultancies from Arup Group, AECOM, and Jacobs Engineering. Feasibility studies referenced precedents like the Øresund Bridge, the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge, and the Channel Tunnel while considering financing structures used by European Investment Bank projects and public–private partnership models implemented in United Kingdom and Japan.
Design proposals have balanced long-span bridge elements, artificial islands, and causeway embankments, drawing on engineering practice from firms including Bechtel, Fluor Corporation, China Communications Construction Company, Vinci, and Royal HaskoningDHV. Structural schemes referenced materials standards from ISO, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, and maritime criteria observed by International Maritime Organization. Construction phasing proposals paralleled large-scale works like Suez Canal Expansion and the Istanbul New Airport program, with marine works by contractors experienced on projects such as Palm Jumeirah and Jeddah Corniche. Ancillary infrastructure planning invoked agencies like Bahrain Airport Company and port operators including Saudi Ports Authority.
Proposed alignments varied, with options connecting Muharraq Governorate to the Saudi Eastern Province, crossing waters influenced by the Gulf of Bahrain and the Persian Gulf. Technical specifications under review included multi-lane carriageways compatible with Arabian Gulf Transport Network standards, freight capacity supportive of links to King Abdulaziz Port, and interchanges proximate to urban centers like Manama, Riffa, and Al Khobar. Comparative metric studies referenced the Danyang–Kunshan Grand Bridge and road design guides from World Bank transport units. Estimated span lengths, clearance envelopes, and seismic criteria were informed by regional documents from Gulf Meteorology Center and the Arab Center for Engineering Studies.
Analyses projected impacts on cross-border commerce among trading hubs including Manama Financial Harbour and Dammam, and on sectors such as tourism linked to attractions like Bahrain International Circuit, Bahrain Fort, and Eastern Province beaches. Studies drew parallels to economic shifts observed after the King Fahd Causeway opening and to corridor effects documented in Asian Development Bank case studies. Expected benefits cited increased trade with partners such as United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Oman via Gulf Cooperation Council market integration, impacts on labor mobility involving expatriate communities from India, Pakistan, and Philippines, and potential boosts to projects like Neom and Red Sea Project through regional logistics synergies.
Marine ecology concerns invoked habitats for species documented by United Nations Environment Programme and regional studies on seagrass beds, migratory bird routes protected under Ramsar Convention, and fisheries used by communities in Al Qadam Island and other localities. Engineering challenges encompassed shallow bathymetry, sediment transport influenced by Shatt al-Arab outflow patterns, and extreme events monitored by World Meteorological Organization and Gulf Research Center. Mitigation strategies referenced environmental impact assessment practices from European Environment Agency and design adaptations used in projects like the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge and Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link.
Administration frameworks discussed coordination among agencies including the Ministry of Interior (Bahrain), Ministry of Interior (Saudi Arabia), customs authorities such as Bahrain National Bureau for Revenue counterparts, and border control protocols modeled on arrangements at King Fahd Causeway and cross-border checkpoints like those at Abu Samrah–Al Ghuwaifat. Security considerations engaged regional defense organizations including Peninsula Shield Force and multilateral dialogues within the Gulf Cooperation Council addressing maritime security challenges similar to those overseen by Combined Maritime Forces and Arab Coalition logistics units. Operational management proposals included tolling systems akin to Salik and interoperability with regional ITS programs piloted by Gulf Intelligent Transport Systems Center.
Category:Proposed bridges Category:Transport in Bahrain Category:Transport in Saudi Arabia