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King Fahd Causeway

King Fahd Causeway
جسر الملك فهد
King Fahd causeway satellite.png
Satellite image of the King Fahd Causeway
Coordinates 26°10′57″N 50°20′09″E / 26.18250°N 50.33583°E / 26.18250; 50.33583Coordinates: 26°10′57″N 50°20′09″E / 26.18250°N 50.33583°E / 26.18250; 50.33583
Carries Motor vehicles
Crosses Gulf of Bahrain
Locale  Bahrain
 Saudi Arabia
Official name King Fahd Causeway
Other name(s) Bahrain Bridge
Named for Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
Maintained by King Fahd Causeway Authority
Website www.kfca.com.sa
Characteristics
Total length 25 km (16 mi)
Width 23 m (75 ft)
History
Constructed by Ballast Nedam
Construction cost US$ 800 million
Opened 26 November 1986; 30 years ago (1986-11-26)
Statistics
Toll SAR 25, BHD 2.5 (Small Vehicles)
SAR 35, BHD 3.5 (Light Trucks & Small Bus)
SAR 50, BHD 5 (Large Buses)
SAR 5, BHD 0.500 per ton (Trucks)

The King Fahd Causeway (Arabic: جسر الملك فهد‎‎, Jisr al-Malik Fahd) is a series of bridges and causeways connecting Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. The idea of constructing the causeway was based on improving the links and bonds between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Surveying of the maritime began in 1968, and construction began in 1981 and continued until 1986, when it was officially opened to the public.

The idea of building a bridge linking the Kingdom of Bahrain to the Eastern region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia had been enticing the two kingdoms for generations. The idea was born out of King Saud's wish to nurture and further solidify the brotherly bond between the two Kingdoms, during an official visit to the State of Bahrain in 1954.

In 1965, the desire to construct the causeway began to take form officially when Sheikh Khalifah ibn Sulman Al Khalifah the Prime Minister of the State of Bahrain paid a courtesy visit to King Faisal and the king expressed his wish to have the causeway constructed.

Subsequently, Bahrain, which drove on the left, changed to driving on the right in 1967. This was to bring it into line with neighbouring countries.

In 1968, both countries formed a joint committee to assess the financial undertaking required for the task. As a result, the World Bank was requested by the committee to contribute their assistance in methods of implementation of the mammoth-sized project. This required taking into account the environmental and geographical aspects of the Saudi-Bahrain region.

In the summer of 1973, King Faisal, in a meeting which included Amir Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa as well as the then prince, Fahd bin Abdul Aziz and Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, suggested that committee overlook the economic and financial aspects of the project and concentrate on the actual construction of the causeway.

In 1975, the World Bank submitted its study and advice after seeking assistance from specialist international expertise in studying the geographic, environmental factors and maritime currents.


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Wikipedia

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