DAMMAM, 20 May 2003 — The King Fahd Causeway authorities have started operating a special lane for Saudi and Bahraini businessmen and diplomats on the 25-km bridge.
An official source at the organization told Arab News it would provide the special service to businessmen and diplomats and those who accompany them, at an annual fee of SR10,000 per person.
A special committee comprising representatives of official agencies in both countries must approve the names of people using the service.
“Official procedures for passengers traveling by the special lane will not be much different from other lanes,” the source said. However, he pointed out that the lack of overcrowding in the lane would speed up movement. “Some official groups will be allowed to use the special lane free of charge following directives from both governments,” the source said.
The $1.2 billion causeway, which was established with the financial support of the Saudi government, opened for traffic in 1986. Eid holidays and weekends witness a rush of passengers when, according to one report, as many as 27,000 people cross the facility a day. The authorities are using advanced technology to facilitate travel on the four-lane highway, which is 25 meters wide. In 2001 alone, 2.7 million cars carrying over 10 million passengers used the causeway.
The causeway extends from Jasra in northwestern Bahrain to Al-Azizia, a suburb of Alkhobar in the Eastern Province. A single man-made island in the center of the link incorporates customs and immigration facilities.
