King Fahd Causeway
|
King Fahd Causeway جسر الملك فهد |
|
|---|---|
Satellite image of the King Fahd Causeway
|
|
| Coordinates | 26°10′57″N 50°20′09″E / 26.18250°N 50.33583°ECoordinates: 26°10′57″N 50°20′09″E / 26.18250°N 50.33583°E |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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.
...
Wikipedia