Riyadh: Consultancy firms will be invited this week to submit their bids for the transitional phase of the new causeway which will link Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, according to Sabq.

“The firm which will be commissioned will provide consultancy services for the planned causeway which will run parallel to the current King Fahd Causeway,” said King Fahd Causeway Authority director-general Fahd bin Mohammed Al Daoud.

The consultancy services include developing a proper framework for partnership between the public and private sectors, as well as conducting the final financial feasibility study.

The commissioned firm will also be required to draw up the required legal framework, preliminary designs and technical features that comply with the national transportation and logistic plans and strategies in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

Al Daoud expected the transitional phase of the project (consultancy) to take up to three years, adding that a model for partnership between the public and private sectors would likely be elaborated by the last quarter of 2019.

The 25km long strategic artery, which will run parallel to the existing King Fahad Causeway, will allow travel for passenger trains, freight trains and vehicles.

The causeway, which is estimated to cost $5 billion and will be part of the proposed GCC Railway, will ease traffic pressure on the existing causeway and boost trade exchanges.

Al Daoud said that a financial, technical and legal consortium led by the financial consultant would be in charge of the project.

Saudi Transportation Minister Dr Nabil Al Amoudi and Bahrain Transportation and Telecommunications Minister Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed announced last October the consultancy tender would be unveiled soon to manage the transitional phase of the new strategic artery.

The announcement was made on the sidelines of the Future Investment Initiative which was held in Riyadh under the patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

The main construction work on the massive causeway will be tendered by the end of 2020.

The project will extend 75km in both countries, including the 25km span of the King Hamad Causeway over the sea.

The GDN had reported that the consultancy bids will be issued in co-ordination with the Saudi Arabian Transportation Ministry and the King Fahad Causeway Authority and will include a financial outline for the project, which will be financed in partnership with the private sector.

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