Bahrain Bay Development, the $2.5 billion landmark waterfront community located in the heart of Manama, was handed back the Manama High Street trough from contractor Nass Murray and Roberts.

The trough, which supports the Manama High Street, the main street running through the Raffles City Bahrain project, passes above two basement car parking levels and distributes all of the development's utility services between the north and south islands of the development, including the district cooling, which runs under the roadway.

Civil works commenced to the trough in June this year and the construction of the structure was finished on schedule.

Bahrain Bay has commenced the combined civil and infrastructure works for the Manama High Street this month.

The first layers of backfill has now been placed within the trough, which has allowed for the laying of the district cooling pipes by AMA, the contractor for Bahrain Bay Utilities.

'I am very pleased with the completion of the Manama High Street trough,' said Bahrain Bay chief executive officer Bob Vincent.

'I would like to congratulate Raffles City Bahrain, who continue to demonstrate their commitment to the project and the completion of the Manama High Street trough demonstrates this further.

'I would also like to acknowledge the contractor, Nass Murray and Roberts, and everyone involved who has driven the contract forward to see the project progress through its stages.

'We have reached yet another key milestone for the project, and this further demonstrates that Bahrain Bay remains on track.'

Other aspects of the project, which are also advancing well, include the main buildings for the 66kv Shamal substation and the Janoob substation, which are now structurally complete.

The two substations, which are due to be energised by the end of the year, are part of a group of four 66kv substations and will play an important role in meeting the energy demands for the development. The other two substations were officially inaugurated on May 13.-TradeArabia News Service