The Ministry of Transportation has allocated EGP 8bn to develop 365 km of the current road network and add a second direction for 450 km of one-way roads. The ministry said this is to accommodate more traffic and limit accidents. It added that the allocation is also for maintaining and enhancing the efficiency of a group of roads in upper and Lower Egypt extending 1,900km, according to Hany Dahi, Minister of Transport. He added that modified timelines have been established so that a number of projects stretching 320 km at a cost of EGP 2bn will be completed within the next three months. During a meeting held Saturday with Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb, Dahi outlined the status of the road projects implemented by the Ministry of Transportation, including new and existing road network development projects and bridge projects. According to a cabinet statement, Dahi estimated the length of national road network projects to be 1,300 km. He said that preparation for facilities, crew, and equipment on site for each project is underway, and coordination on procedures for transferring land ownership is ongoing. Mehleb stressed the need for "commitment to meeting deadlines to finish projects on time, as well as extending work hours and starting work early, with attention to safety factors on work sites". During the meeting, implementation rates for bridge projects were displayed. The projects included the construction of six new bridges by the Nile and eight others aimed at replacing intersections, said Dahi. He added that the total cost will be EGP 3.5bn, and preparations for opening both the El-Kelabya and Bany Mazar bridges by the Nile are underway. He said that the ministry's 24,000 km road network is being examined so that actions requiring urgent implementation may be identified, whether that be paving or providing traffic safety support. Mehleb called on Dahi to follow up with companies executing the projects to emphasise commitment to timelines and work schedules. This will send a message to the whole community, he said, adding that work must be withdrawn from companies that fail to abide by the rules. He stressed the importance of supervising work to ensure a high level of quality, noting that he will attend the next National Road Safety Council meeting to monitor steps taken to ensure road safety as part the council's role. Source: Daily News Egypt
