Work on a major bridge connecting the US Navy base with the military port in Mina Salman is expected to complete next month.

The military project is part of a major $580 million expansion of the Naval Support Activity in Juffair, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

The 70-acre waterfront development, scheduled for completion in 2015, will handle port operations for US and allied navy ships.

US Ambassador Thomas Krajeski said the project showed that his country was committed to Bahrain.

He was speaking during the sidelines of the ninth annual Manama Dialogue, which ended yesterday (December 8).

The three-day security summit, organised by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), was held at the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel and Spa.

"The project will directly connect the facility with the Mina Salman port," said Mr Krajeski.

"It is a joint US-Bahraini project in co-operation with the Works Ministry.

"The naval facility will be used by the Bahrain Navy along with vessels from the UK, Pakistan, India, France and other countries.

"This shows that we are committed to Bahrain, which is our close ally in this central part of the region."

The project will include utilities infrastructure, a consolidated port operations and harbour patrol facility, personnel barracks, administrative buildings and a dining facility.

The relocation of port operations and development at Mina Salman aims to provide better support to US and coalition ships deployed and operating in the region.

Krajeski said there were more than 8,000 Navy personnel and their families living in Bahrain.

"There are about 7,000 personnel and 1,500 family members, who live peacefully in this country, which measure our confidence," he said.

The GDN reported in May 2010 that once the military harbour is complete it is expected to see a significant increase in international naval traffic in Bahrain.

Mina Salman, Bahrain's old commercial port, was decommissioned in April 2009 - shortly after an agreement was signed between Bahrain and the US to convert it into a specialised military facility for warships. - TradeArabia News Service