Facing Doha, Qatar, will be a unique architectural concept that combines engineering and iconic design.
Sharq Crossing
Facing Doha, Qatar, will be a unique architectural concept that combines engineering and iconic design.
Sharq Crossing is the brainchild of Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. It is a construction of three underwater bridges and tunnels that will connect the new Amad International Airport in Doha, Qatar, with the cultural district of the city of Katara, in the north, and the West Bay busi-ness district.
The tunnels will be 7.4 miles long, while the three bridges will be more than 1.8 miles, with an investment of US$12 billion by the Qatar Municipality and Urban Planning Administration. This engineering masterpiece promises that 6,000 cars will cross it every hour to reduce traffic on the Corniche Doha, a waterfront promenade that stretches along 4.3 miles of Doha Bay, a popular area with tourist attractions, as well as the main roads adjacent to it.
Each of the three bridges will be an individual sculptural piece with a distinctive character. West Bay Bridge will feature landscaped areas.
The first bridge, the West Bay Bridge, will be 0.6 miles long steel arch, which upon completion will become the largest steel arch bridge in the world. It will be between the Sheraton Grand Doha and Four Seasons Hotel Doha. Its two-story arched structure will have a recreational park that can be visited via an elevated walkway with trees and greenery, or on a funicular that will travel 410 ft above sea level.
A second bridge will connect Doha to the Katara Cultural Center in the city of the same name, a tourist site with multiple buildings showcasing the region's culture. It will be a 0.7 miles steel cable-stayed bridge supported by seven steel pylons on a curved radius. Access will be between Katara and the St. Regis Doha hotel.
Al Sharq is the name of the third and final bridge that will connect the Ras Abu Abboud Street highway with Doha's new Amad International Airport. Of tubular steel construction, it will span 0.6 miles. It will have recreational areas for visitors, which will be accessed via a funicular railway, offering spectacular views of the city and will include underwater tunnels along 3.7 miles of 2+ lanes.
Text: Amura ± Photo: Santiago Calatrava