The Minister of Transport announced launching the duplication of distance from Luxor to Abu Simbel in many phases to overcome road accidents.
Lieutenant General Kamel Al Wazir: It was planned to construct 21 new axes on the Nile. The implementation and inauguration of 7 axes has been accomplished. The implementation of 8 axes is ongoing and the future phase includes 6 axes.
The axes will connect the main roads network east and west of the River Nile and contribute in the comprehensive development of Upper Egypt.
Within the framework of the continuous follow-up for the development projects which is carried out by the Ministry of Transport in Upper Egypt, the Minister of Transport accompanied with Major Gen. Ashraf Attia – Aswan Governor, Head of the General Authority for Roads and Bridges, Chairman of the Holding company for Roads, Bridges and Land Transportation were in inspection tour to follow-up the implementation rates for number of the Nile axes in Aswan and Qena. He was welcomed by Eng. Ahmed El Aasar –AC Board Member, Eng. Hassan Moustafa – Manager of Bridges and Specialized Structures and Eng. Anas El Sagheer - Deputy Manager of the Bridges Department.
The tour started with the inspection of the alternative central axis for Aswan High Dam, the minister follow up the implementation works of the foundation, columns of the bridges, roads of the axis which cost 2 billion EGP; its total length is 4.5km, width 30m with 3 lanes in each direction. it consists of 4 main bridges (a bridge on the Nile which is carried out by the Arab Contractors Company and Eng. Moustafa Gomaa the Project Manager declared that this bridge is 676m length and 29m width – a bridge on the High Dam’s spillway, the bridge of the western agricultural road - the bridge of the eastern agricultural road “corniche”). In addition to the industrial works of culverts - pipes – tunnels.
The Minister directed the officials of the Roads and Bridges Authority to use the debris by backfilling the creek to benefit from it in the future in serving the governorate. He pointed out that this axis will contribute in relocate the traffic from the dam to the new axis; consequently it will preserve the dam’s longevity.
The axis will link Aswan- Baranees Road to the Western Desert Road (Cairo-Aswan) crossing the River Nile and the Western Agricultural Road (Cairo – Aswan) and linking to Aswan/ Abu Simbel; all the works will be accomplished within 2 years.
The Transport Minister inspected the implementation rates of Daraw Axis on the Nile which is carried out by the Arab Contractors Company; he followed up the foundation and roads works; its cost reached 1.4 billion EGP, with a length of 18.2km. Eng. Hossam Abdel Qader – the Project Manager declared that the project includes 7 bridges: 4 main bridges (eastern agricultural bridge – the Nile Bridge - western agricultural bridge - eastern desert bridge), 3 bridges and 3 tunnels as alternatives for the intersections with the access roads, lakes and drains. The width of the bridge over the Nile is 25m, the width of the other bridges’ sectors reached 21m. The minister emphasized that the implementation of Daraw Axis on the Nile to link between the eastern agricultural road (Cairo – Aswan) to the western desert road (Cairo – Aswan) crossing the River Nile and the western agricultural road (Cairo – Aswan) south of Daraw in Aswan that it will be a free axis.
Lieutenant General Kamel Al Wazir followed up the implementation rates of Kalabsha Axis on the Nile in Aswan with a cost reaching 1.5 billion EGP, 23km length, 21m width, 2 lanes with 7.50m width in each direction. it includes 10 bridges: 5 main bridges crossing the western desert road - western agricultural road - the River Nile – El Mallah El Kabeer drain - the eastern agricultural road; in addition to 5 bridges and 5 tunnels as alternatives for the intersections with the access roads, lakes and drains.
The Minister emphasized on the necessity to intensify all works over the hour to accomplish it on the defined schedule (30th June 2020), especially in the light of the importance of the axis in linking the western desert road with Cairo-Aswan western agricultural road crossing the Nile River and the eastern agricultural road (Cairo - Aswan) north of Kom Ombo in Aswan.
Qous Axis in Qena which total cost reached 1.5 billion EGP; its length is 19km, 21m width, 2 lanes with 7.20m width and a sidewalk for pedestrians with a width of 2.30m in each direction and an island with 2m width.
The axis includes 30 industrial works, 14 bridges and 16 tunnels; 6 main bridges crossing the axis intersection with the eastern desert road – the River Nile – El Kelabya lake in the agriculture road Cairo/Aswan - western agricultural road – the railway - western desert road to alternate the intersections with the access roads, lakes and drains, contribute in linking the eastern desert road and the eastern agricultural road (Cairo –Aswan) north Qous in Qena.
On the sideline of his inspection tour, the Transport Minister stated that regarding Cairo-Aswan desert road on the west of the Nile, the officials of Roads and Bridges Authority to launch the duplication of distance from Luxor to Abu Simbel in many phases to overcome road accidents.
The Minister of Transport declared that these axes will contribute in connecting the main roads east and west of the Nile, saving time, fuel and transportation cost.
He added that starting from 30/6/2014, in the light of the directions of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to decrease the distance between the Nile axes to 25km to ease movement and serve the development projects and the new urban communities. Thus, it will be an integrated horizontal axis connecting the roads network east and west the Nile, not just a bridge on the Nile. It is planned to establish 21 new axes on the Nile with a percentage reached 87% of the existing bridges since its establishing (38 bridges) to reach 59 bridges crossing the River Nile. Besides, the implementation and inauguration of 7 axes on the Nile (Tahya Masr – Talkha El Gedid – Banha El Gedid – El Khatatba – Bani Mazar – Tama – Gerga), in addition to 8 axes which is under construction (Helwan – Adly Mansour – Samalout – Dayrout – Qous – Kalabsha – Daraw – Badeel).