A long-proposed sea-bridge project linking Masirah Island, off the Sultanate of Oman’s eastern seaboard, with the mainland is back on the government’s radar more than 12 years since it was first mooted primarily to enable the speedy evacuation of the island’s population in the event of weather-related emergencies, as well as to help unlock Masirah’s promising economic and tourism potential.
On Monday, top officials of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology listed the Masirah sea-bridge project among a raft of landmark road transportation related ventures that they hope to advance during the course of 2022.
The list includes proposals for a new carriageway linking Al Amerat in Muscat Governorate with Al Tayeen in Wilayat Dima wa’Tayeen (North Al Sharqiyah Governorate), an alternative route to Al Jabal al Akhdar from South Al Batinah, the Salalah-Thamrait truck road project, Al Maabelah – Tharmad truck road, a rail project, and weigh-stations on key roads.
The Masirah Causeway Bridge project stems from Royal directives issued in June 2010 tasking the government with exploring the options for a sea-bridge spanning the channel separating Masirah with the mainland. Those Royal orders came in the wake of Cyclone Phet, which struck large parts of the country’s east coast, including Masirah Island, necessitating a mass evacuation of residents from these areas.
In 2015, the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology selected an Omani-Korean joint venture to undertake a Social and Economic Feasibility Study, as well as prepare the Initial Design and Financial Plan for a sea bridge between Masirah Island and Shannah on the mainland. The JV comprised Omani consultancy services firm National Engineering Office (NEO), and Korean international engineering consultancy firms Dohwa Engineering and Pyunghwa Engineering Consultants.
A key part of the JV’s remit was to identify the most suitable alignment for a combination of a causeway and sea-bridge spanning the shallow Strait of Masirah separating the Island from the mainland, which varies in width from 15 – 25 kilometres and ranges in depth from 0 to 15 metres.
Furthermore, with a view to identifying investment and developmental opportunities stemming from the bridge project, the consultants were also tasked with preparing a Master Plan Study and Land Uses on Masirah Island. Opportunities for commercial, tourism and industrial investment inflows into the island in the wake of the bridge link were to be assessed as well.
However, with a price tag, estimated at around RO 500 million, the proposal was placed on the back-burner as a looming global economic downturn forced a review of spending priorities at the time.
Its revival will be greatly welcomed not only from the standpoint of its importance as an escape route during weather-related perils, but also in opening up the country’s largest island to economic investment and development.
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