Construction began yesterday on the Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road, the first of four stages set to turn it into an international freeway, paving the way towards developing the interstate transportation system. The entire transformation process will cost an estimated LE 1.5 billion. The first stage will include excavation and construction work across 50 kilometers with a price tag of LE 443 million. Minister of Transport Mohamed Mansour explained that the new freeway was in line with the ministry's strategy to upgrade Egypt's transportation network by establishing roads and highways meeting international standards in a bid to facilitate movement for passengers and cargo. Arab Contractors Company will implement the entire project, expected to be completed in 36 months. Construction will first begin on the side lanes to avoid congestion on the road during summertime. The new Cairo-Alexandria Freeway will have bigger lanes and better lighting, telephone booths, ambulance and emergency services, as well as rest stops every 40 kilometers. Residential buildings and compounds situated on both sides of the freeway will be fenced with concrete barriers in an effort to decrease the occurrence of traffic accidents resulting from pedestrians crossing the road. Intersections and u-turn will also be redesigned in a way that does not disturb oncoming traffic, similar to the layout of the Cairo-Ain Sokhna road.
