Ma’ameer Bridge Flushing Assessment

Tubli Bay and Ma’ameer Bay, located between Sitra and Isa Town, are historically and environmentally important regions in Bahrain, recognized internationally for their significance to migratory bird species and mangrove wetlands. The Ministry of Works Municipalities and Urban Planning intends to widen the Sheikh Jaber A. Al Subah (SJAS) Highway crossing at the northern entrance of Ma’ameer Bay. To accommodate this widening while maintaining flow through the system, Ayesa was tasked with investigating the feasibility of modifying the existing culverts/bridge configurations and assessing further flushing enhancement techniques downstream. 

Ayesa conducted a flushing assessment using DHI MIKE software to measure the flows for various scenarios. These scenarios included different combinations of bridge/culvert configurations and downstream modifications, such as deepening or widening the southern entrance channel of Ma’ameer Bay. The iterative assessment of these changing variables aimed to identify the optimum environmental and cost-effective solution. 

The optimal solution involved expanding the number of culverts at the bridge crossing, adding additional flap gates, and widening the southern entrance channel. This approach ensured an efficient flow through the system, maintaining the ecological balance and enhancing the flushing capacity of Ma’ameer Bay. 

Ayesa’s detailed and iterative assessment provided an optimal and cost-effective solution for the Ma’ameer Bridge project. By using advanced hydrodynamic modelling and considering multiple configurations, Ayesa ensured that the proposed modifications would enhance the flushing capacity while maintaining environmental integrity. This comprehensive approach allowed for the development of a solution that was both environmentally sustainable and cost-effective.