Shurayrah bridge will act as a gateway between the mainland and the luxury tourism destination’s picturesque archipelago
Riyadh: The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC), the developer behind the world’s most ambitious regenerative tourism project, has appointed ARCHIRODON to design and build a 1.2km iconic bridge which is part of the 3.3km crossing to its main hub island, Shurayrah.
ARCHIRODON, a leading EPC global Group, will provide engineering, procurement and construction support to complete the building of Shurayrah bridge. The bridge will stretch a total of 1.2km across the Red Sea, with two small 36m sections at each end of the crossing to allow for movement of marine mammals.
“Shurayrah Bridge will become one of the main access points for guests onto the island, and its completion will mark a major undertaking in the development of the destination. Its construction is truly monumental as not only will the bridge be the very first connection to the islands, its construction will demonstrate our ability to accomplish huge feats of engineering whilst also protecting and enhancing the natural habitat” said John Pagano, CEO of TRSDC.
Its design and construction methods meet TRSDC’s strict criteria for sustainable development. Sustainable measures include strict controls on the prevention of any sediment movement from piling activities with multiple monitoring buoys strategically sited to alert any breakthrough from surface booms. A precast yard for bridge sections will be established near the coast to minimize travel distances with concrete sourced from on-site batching plants.
“ARCHIRODON matches our own commitment to pioneering a new relationship between luxury tourism and the natural environment. We are confident that they will deliver a bridge that is pioneering in its construction and design, whilst also meeting our high standards in sustainable development,” added Pagano.
Once completed, the bridge will connect Shurayrah Island to the mainland. The contract follows major marine enabling works carried out by ARCHIRODON across the development last year. These works have helped underpin the successful delivery of the Project by providing a solid foundation to ensure the efficient movement of people, materials and equipment in and around the destination, while safeguarding the sensitive ecological environment.
Dennis Karapiperis, CEO of ARCHIRODON Group said: “We are honored to be awarded a new contract by TRSDC, to be part of this prestigious development for Shurayrah Bridge, which will not only make this unique island destination accessible for visitors, but also have sustainable techniques embedded within every element of its design to ensure the delicate ecological environment is protected and even enhanced.”
“Importantly, the bridge will be more than just a crossing point. It will be a journey that builds anticipation and excitement as guests travel across the bridge for the first time and see the wonders of Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast.”
Shurayrah Island is one of the 22 islands in an archipelago of more than 90 selected for development. The spectacular Coral Bloom design concept for Shurayrah, created by renowned British architects Foster + Partners, was recently revealed. It is heavily influenced by the island’s natural landscape, with hotels that are nestled amongst the dunes and bio-diversity taking center stage throughout.
The Red Sea Project has already passed numerous significant milestones and work is on track to welcome the first guests by the end of 2022, when the international airport and the first hotels will open. All 16 hotels planned in Phase 1 will be opening by the end of 2023.
Upon completion in 2030, The Red Sea Project will comprise 50 hotels, offering up to 8,000 hotel rooms and around 1,300 residential properties across 22 islands and six inland sites. The destination will also include a luxury marina, entertainment and leisure facilities.
About The Red Sea Development Company:
The Red Sea Development Company is a closed joint-stock company wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia. TRSDC was established to drive the development of The Red Sea Project, a luxury, regenerative tourism destination that will set new standards in sustainable development and position Saudi Arabia on the global tourism map.
The project is being developed over 28,000 km2 of pristine lands and waters along Saudi Arabia’s west coast and includes a vast archipelago of more than 90 pristine islands. The destination also features sweeping desert dunes, mountain canyons, dormant volcanoes, and ancient cultural and heritage sites. It is designed to include hotels, residential properties, leisure, commercial and entertainment amenities, as well as supporting infrastructure that emphasizes renewable energy and water conservation and re-use, as well as a circular waste management system to achieve zero waste to landfill.
Activity for the first phase of development is well underway and is on track to be completed by the end of 2023. The project has surpassed significant milestones, with over 500 contracts signed to date, worth over SAR 15 bn ($4bn).
The 100-hectare Landscape Nursery, which will provide more than 15 million plants for the destination, is now fully operational. There are more than 7,000 workers currently on-site and 80km of new roads are now complete, including the new airport road, to better connect the destination. The Construction Village, set to house 10,000 workers, is now open and development is progressing well at the Coastal Village, which will be home to around 14,000 people who will eventually work at the destination.
