Construction to start on Qatar-Bahrain causeway

Construction of the world’s longest marine causeway, which will link Bahrain and Qatar, is due to start in 2009, the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) said on Sunday.

Considered one the most important infrastructure projects in the region, the $3 billion project will take four years to complete and the bridge will consist of more than 40km of twin carriageway running across 22km of viaducts over the sea and 18km of embankments.

Dubbed as the ‘Friendship Causeway’, this is expected to reduce the current travelling time from to Qatar to Bahrain from four and half hours to just 30 minutes.

“The causeway will provide many new opportunities for companies based in Bahrain to further develop their business, not only in Qatar but right across the GCC,” said Sheikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa, EDB’s chief executive.

The causeway will also provide a connection for future high-speed freight and passenger rail lines between the countries, the EDB said in a statement.

There are also plans to extend the route to link Istanbul, Turkey and Muscat, Oman.

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