Manama: The authorities have increased the "crossing" fees for King Fahad Causeway that links Bahrain with Saudi Arabia.

When the facility was opened in November 1986, a crossing fee of BD2 or SR20 was imposed.

Starting January 1, the charge for crossing the causeway by car will increase to BD2 or SR 25. The fee is per vehicle, not based on the number of passengers.

The authorities said that the increase in the fees is aimed at boosting revenues to meet new developments.

These include the creation of two new islands on either side of the borders. Work on the land reclamation will last around 18 months that will be followed by the construction of the infrastructure and the buildings.

The 25-kilometre causeway, Bahrain’s only link with a neighbouring country, was opened by the late King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz and the late Emir Shaikh Eisa Bin Salman Al Khalifa.

It has been a major driver in the increase in the number of people arriving in Bahrain, mainly from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait.

According to official figures, 281,755,297 people have used the causeway since it was opened until the end of 2014, an average of 26,618 travellers a day.

The number of vehicles for the same period was 112,863,043, representing an average of 10,663 a day and making it one of the busiest traffic areas between Arab countries.

In 2014, Saudi cars totaled 3,546,557, compared with 1,058,279 from Bahrain, while 197,135 cars were from other countries.

However, the number of passengers from Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were almost equal, with 11,015,552 travellers from Bahrain and 11,335,525 from Saudi Arabia.

Around 5,000 employees work in three shifts on the link. In October, more than 105,000 people crossed the causeway, setting a new record.

Officials in Bahrain said that 105,182 travellers used the facility on October 11, the highest figure  recorded in one day since the link was opened.

The authorities ensured all lanes were opened, and more personnel were added to speed up clearance procedures and facilitate the smooth flow of traffic.

Authorities in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have issued statements about increasing the number of lanes for cars, buses and trucks, to help deal with traffic congestion, particularly during the weekends and holidays.

Several Saudi Arabia-based Saudi nationals and foreigners who work or study in Bahrain commute daily, while a large number of Bahrain-based expatriates and Bahrainis use the causeway daily to go to work or  school.

Strong family ties among Gulf citizens are a significant factor in the exchange of visits over the causeway.

Movie theatres screening the latest movies and shopping complexes are considered among the top reasons for trips by Saudi families or Saudi Arabia-based foreigners to Manama.

The causeway is also used by trucks, mainly from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE, heading towards Bahrain to deliver or load products.

Queues of long vehicles are often seen at the entrance or exit of the causeway.