A blueprint is being drawn up for a new six-lane causeway in Bahrain linking Manama and Sitra. The plan is to be ready within the next three months.

The project will comprise a new 216-m-long northern bridge, the same length as the existing bridge and a southern bridge, reduced in length from 756 m to 125 m, due to changes in the flows within Tubli Bay.

The existing Sitra causeway bridges will be demolished, once the replacements are built.

The decision follows two studies done on the existing bridge. One of the studies reviewed the structural integrity of the bridges and the other one focused on the traffic capacity. Renovating the current causeway was considered pointless by the studies. Continual increase in traffic volume meant that more lanes are required

Once the design work is completed, the client, the Works and Housing Ministry, will issue prequalification tenders to contractors for the causeway project.

The appointed consultant will be required to provide a design solution that will allow the new bridges to be constructed whilst allowing the existing traffic to continue along this highway. The new causeway would be built in a way that allows an eventual expansion from six to eight lanes and that the existing traffic flows would not be affected, said Works and Housing Ministry under-secretary for roads and sewerage Esam Khalaf.

In addition, an intersection would be built to link the new bridge with Shaikh Isa bin Salman Highway to cope with the increase in traffic expected once Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Causeway is opened at Hidd. Traffic volumes are predicted to come from Umm Al Hassam junction, Mina Salman junction and Bahrain Map junction.

The study recommended a major improvement in these three major junctions on Shaikh Isa bin Salman Highway.