The three bridges will be interconnected by subsea tunnels to create the 12km crossing, which was announced this week. An exhibition of the scheme was also opened.
Qatar's public works authority, Ashghal, described the Sharq Crossing as one of the most ambitious engineering projects ever undertaken in the Middle East. The route will link Doha’s Hamad International Airport with the city’s cultural district of Katara in the north and the downtown central business district of West Bay.
The three inter-connected Sharq Crossing bridges, which are between 600m and 1,310m in length, whill connect to 8km of subsea tunnels. Calatrava’s design is inspired by natural forms, and draws from the image of flying fish to form iconic arcs.
“Architecture for public works humanises the natural landscape and serves the community," said Calatrava. "The Sharq Crossing project for Doha is a great opportunity to develop an exceptional and grand piece of public work.”
The three bridges will be named West Bay, Cultural City, and Al Sharq. The most intricately designed of the three is West Bay, which will be a two-deck arched structure incorporating a recreational park that can be accessed via an elevated walkway and a funicular cableway and will also include recreation facilities that will make the most of the panoramic view of the city’s skyline.
Ashghal has appointed Fluor Corporation as the programme management consultant for construction supervision of Sharq Crossing, which is estimated to begin by 2015.
