Work is due to commence on the rehabilitation of Shaikh Hamad Causeway. Two other major road projects - the Shaikh Khalifa bin Sulman Bridge and the extension to the Shaikh Khalifa bin Sulman Highway - are poised to move ahead. ALI MURAD, undersecretary at the Ministry of Works and Agriculture, outlines to GCM the current position on these major schemes while detailing work that has been carried out by the ministry.

work is scheduled to commence this month (January 4) on a BD2.4 million ($6.36 million) project to repair the bridge on the Shaikh Hamad Causeway. The 15-month contract has been awarded to a joint venture of G P Zachariades (Overseas) Limited in conjunction with local contractor Alwardi Construction and Engineering Company.

The existing bridge was built in 1973/4 and has suffered severe attack by chloride infestation. This, combined with an upgrade of standards since that time, requires an extensive recovery programme to be instituted in order that the bridge can cope with modern traffic.

A single-flow system will be brought into being during the course of the works to maintain traffic at all times from Muharraq to Manama. Traffic travelling in the opposite direction - that is, from Manama - will require to use the Shaikh Isa Bridge to cross the Khawr Al Qualayah.

The works consist of augmenting the foundations by installing bored piles, replacing the existing piers and the existing reinforced concrete deck, strengthening the steel box girders and corrosion protection by inserting a cathodic protection system.

Consultant for the project is DHV International (UK) Limited which has designed the remedial works and will supervise the reconstruction contract.

Sh. Khalifa bin Salman Causeway

The Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Causeway is one of the major civil engineering projects currently being undertaken by Bahrain. This project, being developed by the Roads Directorate of the Ministry of Works and Agriculture, is targeted for completion in 2002, to provide the essential traffic link to the new port and industrial area facilities in Hidd.

The first phase of the project entailed the construction of 4.5 km of causeway between Hidd and Mina Salman across the Khawr Al Qualayah bay leaving a gap of 400 m in the main channel to accommodate a marine bridge. In September 1998, Boskalis Westminster Middle East Limited completed the reclamation and rock armouring contract at a cost of BD13.5 million, on time and on budget.

The 400 m long multi-span bridge, with a bow-string arch section at its centre has been designed by Hyder Consulting Limited, an international firm of consultants. A Category III design check of the bow-string arch section is currently being undertaken by an independent consultant Tony Gee & Partners.

Tender documents have been prepared by the consultant with a view to commencing the construction this year. The bridge design is currently being reviewed in order to confirm that it meets the requirements of future development plans in its vicinity.

The 54-m-wide causeway and 41-m-wide bridge will accommodate a dual three-lane road and an array of utility services, including three 220 kV electricity transmission circuits from the new power plant and two large-diameter water mains from the proposed desalination plant in Hidd.

The designs for 6.4 km of dual carriageway roads are in hand, prepared by the project team of the Roads Directorate including a new roundabout at Hidd and the upgrade of the existing junction outside the Mina Salman gate. Great care is being taken in the planning and programming of the roadworks through the existing port to minimise disruption to its activities. In order to achieve this, advance works have already been completed in Mina Salman Port to provide outfalls for the future road drainage.

Sh. Khalifa Highway - Phase 5

Various scenarios are currently being considered for the implementation of Phase Five of Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Highway which stretches from Wali Al Ahed Highway to Zallaq Highway along the eastern side of Madinat Hamad over a distance of approximately 10 km. The project is aimed at overcoming the traffic congestion in the area.

The crux of the problem lies in the fact that Madinat Hamad has inadequate northbound access. To link the new town with the arterial highway, it is essential to construct a flyover bridging Wali Al Ahed Highway.

Test runs on the Roads Directorate's strategic traffic model have shown that construction of the dual three-lane carriageways and forming three major junctions with Madinat Hamad would largely eliminate traffic delays at the existing congested roundabout.

The project incorporates three roundabout-type junctions and another roundabout at the southern end on the Zallaq Highway. All of these roundabouts are of large proportions, making them suitable for incorporating flyovers when the need arises in the longer term future.

The route has been designed in-house by the Roads Directorate.

Currently, the final quantities are being taken off in order to determine the estimated costs for the works prior to tender. Consideration is being given whether to carry out the whole project or partially by staged construction. The timing of the latter would be dependent upon the traffic demands for developing the links to the new town.

Regarding the major structural requirements, after due prequalification followed by the submission of technical and financial proposals, Cowi-Al Moayed Gulf has been chosen to design and supervise the bridge over the Wali Al Ahed Highway. The bridge would be similar to its counterpart further north over the Budaiya Road.

Road Projects Completed

Last year was one primarily of consolidation and infilling the road network throughout the country. The accorded budget was expended in the following manner:

  • Maintenance - BD3 million ($7.95 million);

  • Opening of roads - BD2.5 million; and

  • Improvements of roads - BD1 million.

    The major schemes for maintenance have, to some extent centered, on the Manama ring route at the King Faisal Road. The western section of this was originally constructed in 1975/6. Having fulfilled its design life, much of the carriageways required complete reconstruction. Although not showing severe defects on the surface, the Falling Weight Deflectometer detected that the pavement strength had deteriorated considerably due to the heavy traffic and extreme diurnal temperatures to which the pavement had been subjected.

    Budaiya Road, Janabiya Highway and Esteqlal Highway also received extensive treatment where sections were overlaid with thin carpet courses on top of different forms of geotextile membranes to prevent the reflective cracking from breaking through the new surface. Extensive works in Isa Town have been carried out to beautify existing urban areas in the form of asphalting whole blocks of streets in Blocks 802-808.

    New roads in residential areas have been constructed to formation level (that is, earthworks), sub-base level (known as type A), or surfaced, invariably nowadays with bitmac rather than the more expensive asphalt, dependent upon the rate of frontage development of the buildings. This policy has meant the outlay has been utilised to implement a larger number of projects.

    Over the year, a total 24,000 m of new roads has been added to the network.

    Widening of access in and out of Al Seef Mall is one of the more notable road improvement schemes carried out.

    A recharge well consisting of drilling a 40-m borehole into the aquifer has been carried out in an attempt to relieve flooding in a section of Damascus Avenue, Isa Town. Filters with grease and petrol traps were included to purify and cleanse the run-off water before passing it into the aquifers.

    To further pedestrian safety, a footbridge on Al Fateh Highway was opened to the public. Designed and supervised by Mohamed Salahuddin Consulting Engineering Bureau (MSCEB), this attractive structure was funded by the Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait (BBK). The bridge will be maintained by Roads Directorate which has erected considerable lengths of fencing in the central medium on either side to ensure that the public use the bridge to cross the busy roadway for their own safety.

    Other Projects Under Way

    Besides work being carried out by the Roads Directorate, other projects are being implemented by the various sections of the Ministry of Works and Agriculture.

    Work is currently under way on the Orientation programme building at University of Bahrain. It calls for the construction of a three-storey building for the University of Bahrain with a built-up area of 6,266 sq m, with associated external works and drainage, including all mechanical and electrical works and lift installations.

    A 749 sq m multi-purpose hall is under construction at the Girls Primary School at Galali. Work includes associated external works and drainage, and other works.

    The Al Moumen Mosque is being built in Manama near the Police Fort. Construction of the building is generally of concrete foundations, concrete columns, beams and slabs, concrete block walls.

    Meanwhile, work is due to start on the construction of a number of schools including a boys technical school, Shaikh Abdulla Bin Isa Technical Commercial Boys School and the Girls Secondary Commercial School at East Riffa. The Askar Primary Boys School is to be rebuilt.

    Also, extensions are to be built at several schools in Bahrain including: the Hamad Town Intermediate Girls School, Ibn Sina Primary Boys School, Hamad Town Primary Girls School, Yathrib Intermediate Girls School and the Al Emam Al Gazali Primary Intermediate School at Hamad Town, Budaiya Primary/Intermediate Girls School, Saar Secondary Girls Schools, West Riffa Secondary Girls Schools, Al Oroba Girls Primary School.

    Projects Completed

    A number of projects were completed during the year by the Ministry of Works and Agriculture. These include the extension to the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre at Sanabis. A new exhibition hall offering 6,300 sq m has been built along the eastern side of the existing exhibition building. The courts at the Ministry of Justice building have been expanded with the addition of two single-storey courts on the existing roof.

    A number of schools were built including a boys primary school and a girls primary school, both at Safrah.

    In addtion, a large number of schools were expanded.