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National Projects in Qatar
QATAR BAHRAIN CAUSEWAY
The Qatar Bahrain Causeway (also referred Overview: The link between the two coun-
to as the Qatar Bahrain Friendship Bridge) is tries would be approximately 40 km (25 mi) in
an often announced, often delayed planned length, and support both a road and a railway.
causeway between the two Arab states of Qatar The link is expected to consist of a number of
and Bahrain. It was announced on the 13th of bridges and will be a natural extension of the
December 2008 that construction would start King Fahd Causeway that connects Bahrain
in early 2009, and would cost approximately and Saudi Arabia, thus linking the entire
US$2.3 billion to complete. As of November region. These links include 18 km (11 mi) of
2010, construction had not started, and the artificial dikes and 22 km (14 mi) of viaducts
Qatar-Bahrain Causeway project was on hold, and bridges. These bridges would be 40 m
while the contracting consortium involved (131 ft) in height at places to allow maritime
with the project was said to be demobilizing, navigation. The eastern-end of the causeway in
according to a source at the Qatar Bahrain Qatar will be located at Ras Ashairij, 5 km (3
Causeway Foundation (QBCF). On January 14, mi) south of the city of Zubarah. The opposite
2011, Bahrain”s Foreign Minister stated that end of the causeway would link North of Askar
the project should nevertheless be considered in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
as a must for both countries:
Plans for its construction were first made in
«This is one economic market, one economic September 2001, when the Danish consultan-
zone that should be well-connected, and the cy COWI signed a DKK 60 million contract for
bridge is an integral part of that. On April 27, the first phase of the project with the Ministry
2011, an announcement was made, quoting of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture in Qatar.
an anonymous source of Bahrain’s Al Wasat Together with Sund & Bælt Partner Ltd., DHI
newspaper, that construction of the causeway Water & Environment and the architects of
would start in 2011 for completion in 2015, at Dissing Weitling and COWI conducted
the cost of approximately $5 billion. pre-studies of the link.
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