Lost causeway

Troubled bridge over waters: pricing and redesign issues have affected the progress of the causeway.

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What had a political beginning can’t seem to reach an economic end.

The Qatar-Bahrain Causeway, the US $3 billion ‘friendship bridge’ that was intended to bring the two countries closer and smooth the last decade’s various diplomatic tensions, has experienced one of the longest delays of all the major projects fighting for progress in the market downturn.

But unlike the many elaborate residential and retail projects that quietly folded in the last few years, the causeway refuses to admit defeat.

For the last three years in particular, announcements amounted to little more than delays and optimistic new dates for commencement, but somehow its existence has continued.

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The project is a two-lane 40km road bridge, which will include 18km of artificial dykes and 22km of viaducts, as well as two cable-stayed spans at a height of 400 metres, in order to allow maritime vessels to pass underneath. It will later incorporate a 13 metre wide railroad bridge.

The concept began during the height of a diplomatic spat between the two countries concerning the ownership of the Hawar Islands off the coast of Qatar.

Qatar’s claim derived from the proximity of the islands, whereas Bahrain testified that it had been granted ownership by Britain in 1939, the then protectorate.

Appeals by both countries to the British saw a decision in favour of Bahrain, a decision reinforced by the International Court of Justice in 2001. The furore died down, and the gap between the two countries, metaphorically and literally, seemed like it could be bridged.

Documenting the events and changes of the causeway is a project in itself. In June 2006 an agreement was reached between the two nations to create a single entity to spearhead the project.

In 2007 the Qatar-Bahrain Causeway Foundation was established, and by September of that year it had signed a memorandum of understanding with a consortium of contractors led by Paris-based Vinci Construction.

A statement at the end of 2008 slated construction to begin in January 2009, despite the fact that in August companies such as Mott Macdonald were reportedly asked to resubmit their bids for the consultancy contract.

January 2009 came around, only for the secretary-general of the Qatar-Bahrain Causeway Foundation, Nayef Al Emadi to reveal to CW that pricing issues, as well as details around the train and other elements, had pushed back the deadline by 12 months.