Doha Bay is the semicircular bay bordering Qatar's capital city, Doha. The city was established on the south bank of the bay.[1] Landfill has been used to extend and expand the city to the north around the edge of the bay.[1] Doha Port, Corniche Street and the Doha Corniche, Al Rumaila Park and Sheraton Park border the bay. Palm Tree Island is located in the center of the bay.
Description
editThe United States Hydrographic Office offers a brief description of the bay in 1920: "The shore of the bay from Al Bida turns northward, and is fronted by an extensive reef running out nearly 1¾ miles, which nearly dries. Between this reef and Jazirat as Safla is a narrow channel leading into a basin westward of that island, with from 1½ to 3½ fathoms water."[2]
Sharq Crossing
editIn 2011, the Sharq Crossing project (formerly known as Doha Bay Crossing) was announced by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Urban Planning.[3] Overseen by Ashghal (Public Works Authority),[4] the project plans to construct three interconnected bridges, designed by Santiago Calatrava, over a 10 km crossing connecting West Bay with Hamad International Airport.[5] There will also be two tunnels below the bay.[6] The purpose behind launching the Sharq Crossing programme was to accommodate the rising traffic in Doha and as a preparatory project for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.[5]
In January 2015, a delay in the $12 billion project was reported. The financial strain of low oil prices may be part of reason for the delay; meanwhile $140 billion is being allocated for other infrastructure ahead of the World Cup event.[6]
References
edit
- ^ a b Doha's Interface with Doha Bay Archived 2015-07-10 at the Wayback Machine Archnet
- ^ United States Hydrographic Office (1920). Persian Gulf Pilot: Comprising the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Omán and the Makrán Coast. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 116. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ "Newly posted designs revive talk of Doha Bay Crossing, but project still far from reality". Doha News. 21 April 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
- ^ "Sharq Crossing Programme". Ashghal. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
- ^ a b Katherine Allen (24 December 2013). "Calatrava's "Sharq Crossing" Planned for Doha Skyline". Archdaily.com. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
- ^ a b Qatar: $12bn Sharq Crossing programme delayed January 21, 2015 Construction Week Online