Bahrain's Ministry of Works was busy with key infrastructure, sports and educational projects last year.

These included the Formula One race track and Shaikh Isa Bin Salman Al Khalifa library (see separate reports).

In addition, major developments have taken place on projects such as the Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Causeway, Phase V of the Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Highway extension and the Hidd port and industrial area.

The site of the causeway linking Manama with Hidd became a hive of activity last September with the arrival of the preassembled spans of steelwork for the marine bridge from Dubai.

To date, all structural steel erection as well as all substructure concrete works has been completed. The composite bridge deck is completed on all of the approach spans with the main span deck progressing.

Bridge

The construction of the causeway between Manama and Hidd was completed in July 2001 at a cost of approximately BD17 million. It extends a length of 3 km from Hidd and a further 1 km from the Manama landfall, leaving a 400-m-wide gap as a navigation waterway.

The Belgian construction company Six Construct Limited, in joint venture with a local construction company Haji Hassan Group, was awarded the BD14.5 million contract for the marine bridge in August 2001.

International consultant Hyder Consulting Middle East Limited, which designed the bridge, is currently supervising work on the project.

The bridge incorporates three approach spans of 46 m each from both the Hidd and Manama sides together with a main navigation span of 120 m. The main span is of a bowstring arch structural steel design rising to a maximum height of 23 m above deck level. The navigation height clearance is 15.4 m above mean high spring tide level.

The construction period has been set at 27 months with a contractual completion date of the end of November 2003 although the contractor is progressing well and may complete the works ahead of schedule.

In order to complete the roadworks phase of the project, it is necessary to provide a clear corridor through the existing Mina Salman Port in Manama.

Accordingly, an accommodation works contract has been prepared and is awaiting award. This will include partial demolition of buildings, re-siting of the port entrance and the relocation of existing services out of the proposed road corridor. The work is scheduled for completion by the end of 2003.

At the same time, a number of roadworks contracts are being prepared for the construction of a total of 6 km of dual three-lane highway including a major signallised junction at Hidd and the upgrade of the existing junction at the Manama side.

Upon completion of the roadworks, the Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Causeway will be integrated into the Bahrain road network.

Flyover

A contract for the construction of the Wali Al Ahed flyover which forms a part of Phase V of the Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Highway extension was awarded last year, while design work is in progress on another development under this phase, involving the construction of a link to Roundabout 6 of Hamad Town.

Construction work is currently in progress on the Wali Al Ahed flyover. International contractor Wade Adams in joint venture with the local company Hafeera Contracting was awarded the BD2.53 million contract for the construction of the flyover and work commenced last October. Cowi Almoayed Gulf undertook the design and is responsible for construction supervision of the project which is expected to be completed in 15 months.

The flyover comprises two twin parallel open spandrel single span arch bridges carrying the northbound and southbound three-lane dual carriageways separately. The pairs of arch bridges each have a span of 51 m over the existing circulatory carriageway with the road embankment for the elevated main highway constructed in between.

The construction of the three-lane dual carriageway over the bridge and its associated slip roads to the existing road network also forms part of this contract.

Extensive landscaping works have been incorporated into the design of the interchange together with a treated sewage effluent reservoir tank for irrigation purposes.

Link to Roundabout 6 of Hamad Town: As an interim measure, a road link had previously been constructed from the original roundabout southwards, forming the northbound two-lane carriageway of the proposed dual carriageway of the Phase V works. This measure was undertaken to alleviate the traffic congestion at Hamad Town at peak times.

It is now intended to construct the second carriageway, which will be 2.5 km long, to complete the dual carriageway link to Roundabout 6 of Hamad Town. This is slated for completion to coincide with the completion of the Wali Al Ahed flyover contract at the end of 2003.

This scheme is currently being designed by the Roads Directorate's design department and will be put to tender shortly.

Port

The new port and industrial area at Hidd project comprises the construction of Phase I of a new deep water port together with around 700 hectares of reclamation to provide a corridor for the port access roadway and an area for industrial development.

Under Phase I, the port will be constructed and basic infrastructure will be provided over approximately one-third of the total area that may be reclaimed for industrial use.

When completed, the project will provide a modern port for containers, general cargo, dry bulk and roll-on-roll-off (ro-ro) traffic.

The port will be equipped with container handling equipment including gantry cranes, straddle carriers and trailers. All necessary packing sheds and control administrative buildings will also be constructed.

The adjacent industrial area will be split into two areas: one for local industry and the other for a free trade zone, which will be operated in conjunction with the port. Within the industrial area, administration buildings and other facilities such as a fire station and medical and business centres will be constructed.

The construction of the project is being undertaken under a number of different contracts, including:

* Advance reclamation contract: This 15-month BD19.5 million contract was awarded to Boskalis Westminster in January 1998. It entailed reclamation of 240 hectares for the Phase I industrial area - involving approximately 13 million cu m of fill - construction of the adjacent rock armoured bund and dredging of the industrial area approach channel and turning basin. The contract was completed in August 1999.

* Dredging, reclamation and marine works contract: This 36-month BD79.95 million contract was awarded to Great Lakes Dredging and Dock Company in January 2002. The contract calls for the reclamation of the port, access causeway, construction of 1,800 m of quay wall with a depth of 15 m depth for the container terminal and general cargo handling, a small craft harbour for pilot and tug boats, and ro-ro berths. Work on this project is more than 30 per cent complete and more than 7 million cu m of material has already been dredged;

* Industrial area infrastructure: This 21-month BD12.69 million contract was awarded to AA Nass Contracting in June 2001 and comprises the construction of the roads, services, and water distribution centre for the Phase 1 industrial area.

* Industrial area buildings: In September 2001, Olympic Contracting was awarded the BD2 million contract the construction of main and personnel gates and gatehouses, medical centre, business centre and fire station and drill tower for completion in 18 months;

* Sewage treatment plant: Bids for this 16-month contract for construction of a sewage treatment plant which will serve the industrial area and port facilities have been invited. The closing date was December 3;

* Port infrastructure: This two-year infrastructure works package will include the construction of the port paving, gantry crane rail and provision of services. Tenders are due to be announced in early 2003;

* Port buildings: The 15-months buildings contract will include port, harbour and container terminal control buildings, container packing/and packing sheds and general cargo sheds. Tenders for this package are due to be announced shortly

* Port and marine equipment: Tenders for port and marine Equipment contracts for the provision of rail-mounted gantry cranes, straddle carriers, tractors and trailers, forklift trucks, tugs and pilot boats are expected to be issued in the third quarter of 2003.