Manama: More than 105,000 people crossed the King Fahad Causeway linking Bahrain and Saudi Arabia on one day, setting a new record.
Officials in Bahrain said that 105,182 travellers used the causeway on Sunday, the highest one-day figure since the terrestrial ink was opened on November 26, 1986.
The number of travelers during the September 1- 28 week reached 514,773, Bahrain said.
The figures coincided with the Eid Al Adha holidays in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the Arab and Islamic countries.
The authorities ensured all lanes were opened and increased the staff to speed up clearance procedures and facilitate the smooth flow of traffic.
The 25-kilometre causeway, Bahrain’s only terrestrial link with a neighbouring country, was opened by the late King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz and the late Emir Shaikh Eisa Bin Salman Al Khalifa.
It has been a crucial factor in the increase of the numbers of people arriving in Bahrain, mainly from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait, and of Bahrain-based people traveling beyond the island kingdom.
According to official figures, 281,755,297 people have used the causeway since it was opened until the end of 2014, an average of 26,618 travellers a day.
The number of vehicles for the same period was 112,863,043, representing an average of 10,663 a day and making it one of the busiest traffic areas between Arab countries.
In 2014, Saudi cars totaled 3,546,557, compared with 1,058,279 from Bahrain, while 197,135 cars were from other countries.
However, the numbers of passengers from Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were almost equal, with 11,015,552 travellers from Bahrain and 11,335,525 from Saudi Arabia.
Around 5,000 employees work in three shifts on the link.
Drivers who use the causeway pay a BD 2 or a SR 20 fee, but no charges are imposed on passengers, regardless of their numbers.
Authorities in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have issued statements about increasing the number of lanes for cars, busses and trucks to help deal with traffic congestion, particularly during the weekends and holidays.
Several Saudi Arabia-based Saudi nationals and foreigners who work or study in Bahrain commute daily while a large number of Bahrain-based expatriates and Bahrainis use the causeway daily to go to their work or universities.
Strong family links between Gulf citizens are a significant factor in the exchange of visits over the causeway.
Movie theatres screening the latest movies and shopping complexes are considered among the top reasons for trips by Saudi families or Saudi Arabia-based foreigners to Manama.
The causeway is also used by trucks, mainly from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE, heading towards Bahrain to deliver or load products.
Queues of long vehicles are often seen at the entrance or exit of the causeway.
