The King Fahd Causeway Authority (KFCA) is opening more lanes and fielding additional personnel to help regulate the flow of traffic during the holy month of Ramadan. “Because of the expected increase in the number of passenger vehicles crossing the causeway in both directions during Ramadan, 18 lanes will be opened and additional personnel will be deployed,” a public relations official on the Saudi side of the causeway said. There are currently around 25,000 vehicles crossing the causeway each day, 99 percent of them passenger cars. “This Ramadan more Bahrainis will travel to the Eastern Province to shop in Dammam and Al-Khobar, while many Saudis will also spend their holidays, shopping, and holding Iftar parties in Bahrain, which offers a variety of events in the evening,” the official said. KFCA is ready to meet the increase in traffic. It has improved its facilities and infrastructure, including the construction of additional lanes. Under this expansion and renovation program, costing some SR20 million, departure lanes have been increased from 10 to 17 and arrival lanes from 13 to 18 on both sides of the border. In addition, the two tower restaurants on both sides of the border will be renovated and expanded at a cost of SR25 million. A commercial center costing around SR8 million that will provide amenities and services, such restaurants, coffee shops, grocery stores, communication facilities, and a recreation mall will also be constructed on the Bahraini side of the causeway. Medical centers will be established on both the Bahraini and Saudi sides of the bridge. A study is currently under way to further identify the development needs of the causeway for the year 2020 onwards.
