DAMMAM: Passengers using the King Fahd Causeway can be rest assured there is nothing wrong with the bridge in terms of safety, said Badr bin Abdullah Al-Atishan, director-general of the bridge, quoting engineers who carried out recent inspections.
“We have not seen anything that necessitates taking special measures,” said Al-Atishan, commenting on the 25-km bridge that links Saudi Arabia with Bahrain.
Since its opening in 1986, some 170 million people and 71 million cars have crossed the bridge, the largest in the region, he said. A record 92,000 passengers and 31,000 cars used the facility on Nov. 30, he added. Al-Atishan said a consulting firm has carried out a survey to expand the service island in the middle of the causeway by 60 percent and the expansion work would end by 2012.
“New expansion would serve not only the causeway’s employees but also passengers and tourists,” he said while attending a function organized by Asharqia Chamber. The project will include a health center, which will be opened next year, he added.
Al-Atishan said the causeway has been undergoing regular maintenance by international specialist companies since its inception. A report issued in April 2009 showed that the concrete structure of the bridge is in good form.
“The regular inspection of the causeway covers the portions under the sea as well as connecting structures,” he said. The causeway’s expected lifespan is 50 years, which could extend to 75 years if there is proper maintenance.
He said measures are taken to ensure the quick clearance of large trucks to avoid their presence on the bridge for a long time, endangering its safety.
The causeway’s board of directors recently approved its budget (SR240 million) for 2010, which is 17 percent more than the previous year. The money will be used to complete development projects started in the past two years.
“These projects include increasing the number of tracks from 10 to 18 and the opening of more service counters to complete passport and customs procedures,” Al-Atishan said.
An average of 70,000 passengers and 50,000 vehicles cross the bridge every day. “We have a plan to allocate two lanes for students and people with special needs,” he added.
