From Qatar to Bahrain : The longest bridge in

From Qatar to Bahrain : The longest bridge in the world

VINCI Construction Grands Projets, lead contractor of a consortium of construction firms, and Middle East Dredging Company (MEDCO, a DEME subsidiary) have just signed a design-build contract, valued at 3 billion dollars, with the Qatar-Bahrain Causeway Foundation for a causeway, a fixed maritime link, between Qatar and Bahrain. The contract was signed on 6 May in the royal palace in Bahrain, in the presence of the Crown Princes, VINCI Chairman Yves-Thibault de Silguy, and Pierre Berger, Chairman of VINCI Construction Grands Projets. This project of the Qatar- Bahrain Causeway Foundation (an inter-governmental body created for this purpose), calls for the design and construction of a 2x2-lane, 40 km-long fixed motorway link between Qatar and Bahrain. It will feature a series of artificial embankments where the sea is shallow, and bridges over deeper water, with a total of 18 km of embankments and 22 km of viaducts and bridges, including two 400 m cable-stayed bridges allowing shipping to pass through. The structure will comprise 500 piers. The “Friendship Bridge” will create a direct link between Qatar and Bahrain, fostering trade and making travel easier for residents of the two countries. At present, the journey by road takes five hours; with the causeway, it will only take about 30 minutes. The project will have to meet rigorous environmental and ecological standards. The consortium of construction firms is composed of VINCI Construction Grands Projets (leader), QDVC (a Qatari subsidiary owned 51% by Qatari Diar and 49% by VINCI Construction Grands Projets), Hochtief and CCC. The dredging works will be undertaken by MEDCO. After a 9-month preparatory phase and more than four years of works, the bridge will come into service in 2013. 12,000 vehicles are expected to use it daily.