Roads

Throughout the centuries, Egypt has been a centre of worldwide transportation, and the connecting link between the eastern and western civilizations. Egypt’s strategic location, as a meeting point between the three old world continents of Africa, Asia and Europe,has recently stimulated the construction of major inter-regional and national road networks.

Egypt boasts a well developed road system connecting the major population centers.

Egypt’s system of highways has almost trebled over the last two decades, to about 44 000 km up from 15300 km in 1981. .

It’s network of highways and inter-city roads carries 85% of domestic freight and 60% of passenger travel.

Currently a 113- km Greater Cairo Ring Roads is linking all highways between Cairo and other cities.

Six BOT roads projects have been offered – for the construction of roads (between Saloum and Natroun / Alexandria and Fayoum,/Dayrout and Fayoum / Aswan and Dayrout / Dayrout and Farafra and / Kharga and East Oweinat).

At the end of 2001, 14 bridges has been constructed to connect the roads networks across the Nile at 10 locations, 65 flyovers on the road network, 107 movable bridges over waterways,991 stationary bridges over waterways, and six tunnels.

On December , 2002 The Aswan Suspension Bridge over the River Nile has been opened officially.

Bridge projects are also currently being carried out across the Suez Canal, greatly facilitating the traffic of individuals and goods, and acting as a strategic link between the African and Asian Mubarak Peace suspension Bridge and new al-Ferdan Bridge. Jointly financed with Japan, the four – lane, 9. 5 km Mubarak Peace suspension bridge over the Suez Canal near Ismailia. The al – Ferdan Bridge,on the other hand, is currently the longest rotating metal bridge in the world, and is expected to accommodate over network linking North and West African countries.

Egypt is establishing a system of highway networks to facilitate access whether in Africa or Asia through:

1-North coast highway which connects the coastal cities from Al Arish to Libya which is in its final phase The Mediterranean coastal road is being renovated as it forms part of the link between North Africa and Europe’s Mediterranean road network via the Gibraltar crossing.

2-Egypt is already connected with Asia on its east side from Nuwaibaa – Al Aqaba, Sharm El Sheikh- Al Aqaba and currently is planning to link Hurgada with Aqaba through barrages that have transported 650. 000 passengers and thousands of cargos in the year 2003.

3-At the moment, Egypt is setting a 380 Km 2-way highway linking Suez to Port Sudan.