A general view of a construction site of the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah causeway.

:: It is only a year until the opening of Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Bridge, which is considered one of the longest bridges in the world, with a total length of 43.14 km. The causeway is expected to be inaugurated by the end of 2018.

The Ministry of Public Works in Kuwait announced its intention to impose fees for passing across the causeway. It is the first time in the history of Kuwait that a toll is to be enforced for the use of roads.

This bridge shortens the distance between the Kuwaiti capital, Kuwait City and the Sabia area which takes about 90 minutes to cross 104 kilometers by vehicles. The new bridge will shorten the trip to 37.5 kilometers, which will take drivers less than 30 minutes.

The Minister of Public Works Abdul Rahman Al-Mutawa justified the initiative in a memo, which he has submitted to the Council of Ministers requesting the implementation of these fees, after conducting a research on similar practices in the region.

The ministry compared between the Sheikh Jaber Bridge and other bridges in the Gulf region, Asia and Europe and found out that most countries which have similar bridges are collecting fees to cover the costs after operation.

The toll will also benefit the state economically as well as provide the operating and maintenance expenses needed.