King Fahd Causeway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids King Fahd Causeway |
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The King Fahd Causeway as seen from space
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| Carries | Motor vehicles |
| Crosses | Gulf of Bahrain |
| Locale |  Bahrain, Saudi Arabia |
| Official name | King Fahd Causeway |
| Other name(s) | Bahrain Bridge, Causeway |
| Maintained by | King Fahd Causeway Authority |
| Website | www.kfca.com.sa |
| Characteristics | |
| Total length | 25 km (16 mi) |
| Width | 23 m (75 ft) |
| History | |
| Opened | 12 November 1986 |
| Statistics | |
| Toll | SAR 20 (Small Vehicles) SAR 30 (Light Trucks & Small Bus) SAR 50 (Large Buses) SAR 3 per ton (Trucks) |
The King Fahd Causeway is a long series of bridges and causeways. It connects the countries of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. The idea to build this causeway was to make the connection between these two countries stronger.
Planning for the causeway started in 1968. Building began in 1981 and finished in 1986. It was officially opened to the public on November 12, 1986. In 2008, about 48,600 people crossed the causeway every day.
Crossing the Border
The Border Station is a special area on the causeway. It covers a huge space of 660,000 square meters. This man-made island is often called Passport Island or Middle Island.
Many important buildings are on the Border Station. These include offices for the King Fahd Causeway Authority. There are also two mosques and two Coast Guard towers. You can even find two tall tower restaurants, each about 65 meters (213 feet) high. The island also has beautiful gardens and service areas.
The Border Station is designed as two connected islands. The western side belongs to Saudi Arabia. The eastern side belongs to Bahrain. Both sides have places to eat. For example, the Saudi side has McDonald's and Kudu restaurants. The Bahraini side also has a McDonald's.
Since March 6, 2017, crossing the border has become much easier. Now, travelers only need to stop once for passport control, car checks, and customs. This new system helps people travel faster. It also makes the traffic flow better on the causeway.
Future Plans and Upgrades
In July 2010, there were plans to make the King Fahd Causeway even bigger. This expansion project was expected to cost about $5.3 million. The goal was to make travel smoother for everyone.
The plans included adding more lanes for cars. The number of departure lanes was to increase from 10 to 17. The number of arrival lanes would go from 13 to 18 on both sides.
A new shopping area was also planned for the Bahraini side. It would have many restaurants and coffee shops. There would also be a grocery store, phone booths, and other shops for travelers. The plans included modern restrooms and meeting places.
A health center was also being built on the Bahraini side. It would have an emergency room and an ambulance. This center would help travelers and staff on the causeway. A similar health center was planned for the Saudi side. Also, a new security checkpoint was to be added near the Bahraini entrance.
The project also aimed to improve public facilities. This included better restrooms and mosques on both sides. There were also plans to update the two tower restaurants. These renovations would keep the towers' original look.
Images for kids
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View of the causeway, facing east (Saudi Arabia's side).
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The causeway from the Bahrain side.
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See also
In Spanish: Calzada del Rey Fahd para niños
