The National Roads Project is a significant Egyptian infrastructure project initiated by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in August 2014. The project includes the construction of 39 new roadways with a total length of 4,400 km. The latest road network will account for around 10% of the total size of all roads in Egypt. The project is expected to be completed within two years and cost £E36 billion.
Among the planned roads are the Ismailia-Banha (33 km), the Sohag–Red Sea Road (180 km) and the Wadi al-Natrun-Alamein (134 km).
2016-2017 phase
According to the Ministry of Transport, a new phase of the National Roads Project, including a 55-kilometre road connecting Al Minya to Sheikh Fadl at the cost of EGP 435 million, was set to launch in 2016.
The projects also included developing the 90 km Sheikh Fadl — Ras Ghareb Road at the cost of EGP 317 million, the development of the 180 km Sohag-Safaga Road at the cost of EGP 715 million, and the Qena-Safaga Road at the expense of EGP 448 million.
Developments also included the renovation of 41 bridges and 30 tunnels at the cost of EGP 2.5 billion and the development of the Shubra-Banha corridor, which had been previously postponed. The work is expected to reduce traffic congestion on the Cairo – Alexandria agricultural road and connect to the Regional Ring Road.
The transport ministry has announced that this latest phase of the National Road Project will be completed by the middle of 2017.
Cairo-Sharm Phase
Egyptian Armed Forces Engineering Authority is finally finalising Oyoun Mousa-Sharm El Sheikh Road – a new 340-kilometre tunnel road that will shorten the trip from Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh to four hours – in conjunction with the presidential 30th of June celebrations 2019.
Jointly developed by Armed Forces Engineering Authority-led consortium with Orascom Construction and Arab Contractors, the new road bypasses the towns of Ras Sudr, Abo Zenima, Ras Abo Redis, and Tor Sinai, before ending at Sharm El Sheikh, with three lanes in each direction, Transport Minister Kamel El Wazir said in an official statement on the 29th of May.
El Wazir highlighted that the total trip distance would be 100 kilometres shorter than the older 540-kilometre route, noting that there would be 14 gas stations along the way, seven on each side, with 50 kilometres between each.
With investments totalling around EGP 3.5 bn, Oyoun Mousa-Sharm El Sheikh Road is part of the first phase of the state’s more comprehensive National Roads Project.
6 October Zone Phase
Transport Minister Kamel El Wazir has revealed that 4,500 out of the total 7,000 kilometres of the under-development National Roads Project have been implemented since the program’s inception in 2014, at a total cost of EGP 75 bn.
To accomplish the national plan’s endeavours, another 1,300 kilometres are under construction, with investments worth EGP 25 bn. In contrast, an additional 1,200 kilometres are planned for the near future; El Wazir announced when addressing a panel at the “Egypt Can” conference on October 16.2019, according to a recent ministerial statement.
Since June 2014, seven new principal axes have been established on the Nile River in Upper Egypt, aiming to link main roads located on the western and eastern banks of the Nile, amounting to EGP 10 bn, El Wazir pointed out, adding that another seven similar projects are underway, together with the revamping of two others, for a value of EGP 14 bn.
As part of the state’s long-term ambitious scheme, the upgrading and maintaining of 5,000 kilometres of the existing road network has been completed at a total cost of EGP 15 bn. Besides, 250 bridges have been developed nationwide, the minister highlighted, stressing that Egyptian contractors carried out all these developments.
In addition, works have commenced for building the first dry port in the 6th of October Industrial Zone, west Cairo, in cooperation with the Ministry of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities, with investments valued at EGP 1.141 bn, El Wazir further stated, adding that the submission of technical and financial tenders was carried out and is under consideration.
Meanwhile, the state is currently working to prepare all the required mechanisms of tenders for the open dry port on the 10th of Ramadan City, which will extend for 60 kilometres long and will be built with costs estimated at EGP 2.4 bn, aiming to serve those operating at the 6th of October City’s dry port.
Ring Road Phase
Egypt’s transport ministry, in 2020, undertook the expansion of the Ring Road around Greater Cairo, with costs totalling EGP 7.3 bn, aiming to help trim down traffic jams on the metropolitan area’s most crucial freeway, Invest-Gate reports.
Stretching over 106 kilometres long from the Autostrad to Mariottia Corridor, construction is almost 30% complete on site. Work includes doubling the number of lanes from four to eight in each direction. In contrast, streets will be widened to seven in the Autostrad/Mounib area. Transport Minister Kamel El Wazir affirmed during a recent tour of the Ring Road, emphasising the commitment to timeframes and quality management.
El Wazir confirmed that the upgrade aims to cater to the rapid population growth by widening the Ring Road to accommodate larger traffic volumes and cut travel time, hence reducing energy consumption.
Additionally, the funds will be geared toward enhancing road services so that commuters can reduce the time spent driving across the capital. He revealed plans to operate the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system buses on the Ring Road to minimise traffic congestion. Delivering fast, comfortable, and cost-effective services, these electric vehicles will have a larger capacity and stop at fixed stations that will be identified along the highway in separate lanes, the minister underlined.
After the Ring Road expansion works are executed, the Ministry of Transport will supervise this project in cooperation with Cairo, Giza, and Qaliubiya governorates. He pointed out that the former party is still negotiating with the World Bank to provide soft loans in funding for implementation.
Last October, El Wazir revealed that 4,500 out of the total 7,000 kilometres of the under-construction National Roads Project had been implemented since the program’s inception in 2014, which is being developed at a total cost of EGP 75 bn, as highlighted in a previous press release.
III Phase
Egypt is implementing phase III of the National Roads Project at the cost of EGP 35 bn, including 17 projects totalling 1,300 kilometres.
Among the road projects under the latest move is the first phase of development and expansion of the Western Cairo-Aswan Desert Road, Transport Minister Kamel El Wazir confirmed in a ministerial statement on July 19.2020.
The transport minister further revealed This in addition to the Assiut-Sohag Road Expansion, Safaga-Marsa Allam Road Expansion, and more.
Last October, El Wazir said 4,500 out of the total 7,000 kilometres of the under-development National Roads Project had been implemented since the program’s inception in 2014, at a total cost of EGP 75 bn, according to a previous statement.
