Sunday, Nov 22, 2009

ABU DHABI (Zawya Dow Jones)--Construction of a causeway that will link the Persian Gulf states of Qatar and Bahrain will begin in the first quarter next year, with completion due by 2015, the official in charge of the project said Sunday.

Jaber Ali Al Mohannadi, general manager of the Qatar-Bahrain Causeway Foundation, said at a conference in Abu Dhabi that the project's cost was about 20% lower than originally anticipated, due to a drop in raw material and equipment cost as a result of the world financial crisis.

Al Mohannadi didn't provide a cost estimate for the project, which industry officials have put at as much as $3 billion to $4 billion.

The project, also known as the Friendship Bridge, will be funded by both governments.

-By Alex Delmar-Morgan, Dow Jones Newswires; +9714 374 8044; alex.delmar-morgan@dowjones.com

Copyright (c) 2009 Dow Jones & Co.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

22-11-09 0636GMT