The Sitra Causeway was opened to traffic in 1976 with a dual two-lane highway of 3.2 km long to connect Manama and Sitra through Nabih Saleh Island.  In the past three decades, the condition of the bridges deteriorated due to the harsh marine environment and overloading. Further repairs and refurbishments are no longer technically and economically feasible.

As a result of above, the Ministry of Works & Housing has decided to replace the existing bridges with new bridges and increase the traffic capacity by constructing a dual three-lane highway, a 3-level grade-separated intersection at Umm Al-Hassam, and at-grade signalized intersections at the entrance to Nabih Saleh Island and at North Sitra.