King Fahd Causeway

King Fahd Causeway

جسر الملك فهد
Satellite image of the King Fahd Causeway
Coordinates26°10′57″N 50°20′09″E / 26.18250°N 50.33583°E / 26.18250; 50.33583
CarriesMotor vehicles
CrossesGulf of Bahrain
Locale Bahrain
Saudi Arabia
Official nameKing Fahd Causeway
Other name(s)Bahrain Bridge (by residents of Saudi Arabia), Saudi Bridge (by residents of Bahrain)
Named forFahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
Maintained byKing Fahd Causeway Authority
Websitewww.kfca.sa
Characteristics
Total length25 km (16 mi)
Width23 m (75 ft)
Longest span150 m
History
Constructed byBallast Nedam
Construction costUS$800 million
Opened26 November 1986 (1986-11-26)
Statistics
TollSAR 25, BHD 2.5 (small vehicles)
SAR 35, BHD 3.5 (light trucks and small buses)
SAR 50, BHD 5 (large buses)
SAR 5, BHD 0.500 per ton (trucks)
Location
Interactive map of King Fahd Causeway

The King Fahd Causeway (Arabic: جسر الملك فهد, romanizedJisr al-Malik Fahd) is a 25 km (15.5 mi) long series of bridges and causeways connecting Khobar, Saudi Arabia, and Al Jasra, Bahrain across the Gulf of Bahrain.

Its five bridges rest on 536 concrete pylons, with seven embankments in the gulf's shallower water. One of the embankments, known as Middle Island (الجزيرة الوسطى, al-Jazirat al-Wustaa), has been converted into a sizeable artificial island with customs and immigration facilities, a mosque and gardens, and fast-food restaurants now known as Passport Island. Another island towards the eastern end of the causeway belongs to Bahrain and is known as Umm an Nasan (ام النعسان, Um al-Na'saan).

The causeway opened on the 26th of November 1986, making it the first bridge that connects an Island nation to its closest continent.