The Kingdom of Bahrain

Replacement of Sitra Causeway Bridge
Loan No: 504 Interest Rate: 4.5 %
Beneficiary: Ministry of Works and Housing  Grace Period: 4 years
Project Cost: KD 71.7 million Maturity: 22 years
Amount of Loan: KD 19.0 million Repayment: 37 semi-annual installments
Date of Board Approval: - First Installment: 4 years following the first disbursement
Date of Loan Agreement: 2007-07-03 Date of Loan Effectiveness: -

Objectives:

The project aims at accommodating the increased transport demand between the Capital Manama and Sitra island, and enhancing the road infrastructure network in Bahrain. The project is expected to contribute towards increasing traffic safety and efficiency, and reducing travel time and cost.

Description:

The project involves the construction of a new causeway 3.5 km long and 16 m wide. It also includes upgrading Umm Al-Hassam intersection to be three-fold grade-separated with free flow for the main traffic directions, in addition to the provision of the related utilities and facilities, and the necessary consultancy services. The project, which is expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2010, consists of the following components:

  1. Preliminaries: This component comprises preparation of contractual documents, erection of site offices, laboratories, workshops and warehouses in addition to the temporary works needed during the construction of the northern and southern marine bridges and Umm Al-Hassam intersection.
  2. Umm Al-Hassam interchange: This comprises all civil works needed for the execution of the three levels of the intersection. These include earthworks, drainage, retaining walls, concrete and steel works, and all necessary ancillary works.
  3. Dredging and Reclamation: This includes dredging and reclamation works, in addition to testing of the soil that is to be used for an embankment of about 2.3 km length and 110 m-180 m width.
  4. Causeway Bridges: This component comprises the works needed to build a northern bridge about 200 m long and a southern bridge about 400 m long. These works include rainwater drainage, earthworks, concrete and steel works, supports and retaining walls and expansion joints.
  5. Causeway Road Works: This includes demolition and site clearance, earth excavation and filling and construction of pavement layers and other works necessary to build a road about 2.3 km long over the embankment. It also includes all ancillary works necessary for building the road such as road safety features, irrigation system and vegetation.
  6. Utilities and Services: This comprises the provision, relocation and upgrading of various networks including electrical, water, gas, drainage, sewage, telephone and lighting networks and other works.
  7. Replanning and Provision of Utilities: This component includes replanning of the industrial area at Salman port, in addition to the provision of water, electricity and other services during project implementation.
  8. Consultancy Services: This includes providing technical services required for the preparation of project studies, design, tender documents, as well as assisting in the analysis of submitted bids and supervision of project execution.
  9. Expropriation: This includes land acquisition and property compensation necessary for project implementation.

Financing:

The Arab Fund’s loan covers about 26.5% of the total cost of the project. The Islamic Development Bank will contribute the equivalent of KD 19.5 million (about 27.2% of the total cost). The Government of Bahrain will cover the remaining cost of the project and any additional cost that might arise during the implementation period.