Construction of the US $3 billion (BHD1.1 billion) Bahrain-Qatar causeway will now start in January next year and is expected to be completed by 2013. Earlier, construction was expected to begin last May, with completion earmarked for 2011. The conceptual designs for the bridge will be completed in October and basic designs by the end of December, Mogens A Hviid, project director at design consulting firm Cowi said. "Construction is scheduled to start in January and the project will be completed in 51 months," he said. The project was given the go-ahead after an agreement was signed in May with the Qatar-Bahrain Causeway Consortium (QBCC) led by Paris-based Vinci Construction Grand Projects. Besides Vinci, the consortium includes Germany's Hochtief, Athens-based CCC, QDVC and Middle East Dredging Company. The 40km project will include 22km of bridges and an 18km embankment. In comparison, the 25km Bahrain-Saudi Causeway has 12km of bridges. The bridge will connect Ras Esharaq on the Northwest coast of Qatar with Askar Village on the east coast of Bahrain. Work on the project is expected to start on both sides simultaneously. ArabianBusiness

Follow us on our social media channels: @ILQlive @ILQlive @ILoveQtr ILoveQatar