On his official visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, was met by H M King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa yesterday at Al Safriyah Palace.

The pair discussed the resumption of the construction work of the Qatar-Bahrain Causeway

Background

The two Arab states of Qatar and Bahrain were intended to be connected by the Qatar-Bahrain Causeway. In 2017, it was also anticipated that a ferry service would be launched between the two nations. The bridge’s construction had been put on hold because of Bahrain’s support of Saudi Arabia and the diplomatic issue involving Qatar.

Now, after the resumption of diplomatic ties between Qatar and its neighbors, the causeway plans are back in action.

The Qatar-Bahrain Bridge project was the topic of the discussion, and the relevant authorities in both nations were instructed to finish the project’s blueprints and start construction.

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The causeway

Once finished, it will be the longest fixed causeway in the world. The route, which will naturally follow the King Fahd Causeway that links Bahrain with Saudi Arabia, will connect northern Qatar with Bahrain’s eastern coast.

Following completion, the QBC will cut the five hours of travel time between Bahrain and Qatar to thirty minutes.

Design

The QBC is a rail platform and a dual two-lane highway with four total lanes, including emergency lanes in each direction. It is made up of low-level bridge constructions, iconic arch bridges, and roadway segments on reclaimed embankments and natural islands.

Additionally, it features a rail platform for upcoming high-speed passenger and freight rail lines. The main rail link for the Middle East Gulf Coast countries could be expanded to connect Istanbul, Turkey, with Muscat, Oman. A rail authority was recently established by the GCC to carry out this initiative.

Causeway operations and facilities along the border

Electronic payment systems, supervisory control and data acquisition systems (SCADA), and traffic monitoring and surveillance systems (TMSS) will be deployed at the QBC to facilitate traffic control and management. Additionally, border processing systems for both nations will be included.

The causeway authority’s banking and administrative systems will get data from the electronic payment systems used to collect tolls. Authorities will be able to guarantee the causeway’s safety and effective operation thanks to the TMSS and SCADA, which will also enable the gathering of measurement data and details on the causeway systems’ current state.

Modern technology for internal and external communication will also be installed.