Awards

Awards >> Special Award for Infrastructure Project (2017 - 2018)
Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah Causeway
Special projects are outstanding not only from conventional engineering and economy points of
view, but also for their contribution towards the development of society.
The Special Award for Infrastructure Project 2017 was presented to Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah
Causeway, which was honoured as “monumental infrastructure development that will became
Kuwait’s national symbol of progress and link to its future”.
Project Objectives
The central and southern regions of Kuwait are densely populated and current strategic planning
focuses on developing the northern regions, and on facilitating their integration with the rest of the
country. Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah Causeway provides the strategic link between Kuwait City
and the Subiyah Area.
It reduces travel distance between Shuwaikh and Subiyah from 104 km to 36 km, and driving time
from 90 minutes to less than 30 minutes. This causeway is one of the largest and most prestigious
transport infrastructure endeavors in Kuwait and the region. Starting at the intersection of Ghazali
Road with Jamal Abdul Nasser Street, it crosses Kuwait Bay in the northernly direction and ends at
Subiyah.
The causeway accommodates a highway comprising three traffic lanes and an emergency shoulder
on each side of the route. Design speed is 120 kilometers/hour, and a larger part of the link is a low
level causeway with closely spaced piers. A 120m wide navigational channel with a 23 meters
clearance allows access for ships to the bay.
This is achieved by an innovative structural system, where stay cables supporting the bridge across
the navigational channel, are anchored to a truss-pylon shaped like a sail boat.
Structural Features
The 153 meters high pylon is a composite concrete steel truss structure. It is supported on large
piles, some of which are 3 meters in diameters and 60 meters in height. The span across the
navigational channel is supported by eight pairs of stay cables, the longest being 248 m long with a
diameter of 250 mm.
There are number of full span girders, ranging from 40-60 m in length and 1000-1800 tonnes in
mass. Segments were fabricated in a precasting yard in Subiyah, transported 2.5 km on land, and
then shipped to location on a barge
Concrete
The concrete mix and its production was very critical for this project. The bridge was designed to
operate for 100 years with minimal maintenance; and the concrete must survive harsh Arabian Gulf
conditions, where the water has the largest concentration of salts in an open body of water in the
world.
More than one million cubic meters of various grades of concrete were produced. A special
cementitious material, slag in this case, was used to replace part of the cement in the concrete
mixes.
Ingredients and water to cement ratios were carefully selected to achieve durability. Molluscs can
work slowly and persistently on deteriorating the concrete and hence calcium-based aggregates
were avoided.
Environment Considerations
Two artificial islands have been developed along the link. Each island is about 300,000 m² in area,
and will house numerous facilities including administration buildings, electrical substations, traffic
control center and potentially some recreational amenities.
The bay is Kuwait’s window to life and the world, and it must be protected. The environmental
impact of offshore construction is usually a major concern because of detrimental effects on sea life
and on pollution of water.
Construction in this project was designed not only to protect life, but studies under the auspices of
Environmental Public Authority were conducted to develop coral reef areas and shrimps and sea
vegetation habitats.
The causeway project is an exceptional example of sustainable development.
Technical data
Pylon :
153 meters high / Composite concrete-steel truss structure.
Stay Cables :
Longest is 248 meters and 250 mm in diameter.
Precast Segments :
60 meters segments weighed 1800 tonnes; 40 metres weighed 1000 tonnes.
Batching Plants :
4 land and 3 marine plants to produce concrete.

Piles :
Over 1550 piles. Some up to 3.0 m in diameter and 60.m in height.
Pile Caps :
Over 1200.
The Award was presented to:

Developer
Public Authority for Roads and Land Transport (PARLT).
Certificates and plaques were presented to:
General Contractor
Hyundai Engineering and Construction.
The Combined Group Contracting Company.
Design and Supervision Consultants

Systra International Design Consultants (Design), France.
Dar Al-Handasah - Shair and Partners (Design and Supervision), Kuwait.
SSH International (Design and Supervision), Kuwait.
Main Concrete Supplier

National Industries Company.

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Awards >> Special Award for Infrastructure Project (2017 - 2018)

Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah Causeway

The causeway project is an exceptional example of sustainable development.

153 meters high / Composite concrete-steel truss structure.

Longest is 248 meters and 250 mm in diameter.

60 meters segments weighed 1800 tonnes; 40 metres weighed 1000 tonnes.

4 land and 3 marine plants to produce concrete.

Over 1550 piles. Some up to 3.0 m in diameter and 60.m in height.

The Award was presented to:

Design and Supervision Consultants

Main Concrete Supplier

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