Thursday 26 Dec
In accordance with the directives of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to enhance connectivity and facilitate movement within the canal region, a series of floating bridges have been constructed. The inauguration was attended by Lieutenant General Osama Rabie, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, Major General Pilot Akram Galal, Governor of Ismailia, Major General Walid Mohamed Aref, Chief of Staff of the Engineering Authority of the Armed Forces, and Major General Mahmoud Suleiman, Director of the Department of Military Engineers. The newly opened bridges are named after late heroes: the Martyr soldier Islam Muhammad El-Sayed Bridge at kilometer 65,500 and the Martyr Aqeed Islam Abul Makarem Bridge at kilometer 70,300.
This was attended by a number of members of the Authority's board of directors, as well as several security leaders and provincial officials.
Each bridge features a
255-meter-long metal span, a width of 15 meters, and a load capacity of 100
tons. The structure comprises three 85-meter-long floating pontoons, engineered
to international standards for optimal safety and navigational security. The
bridge's operation is automated, with three machines and three self-propelled
winches facilitating opening and closing for vehicular traffic within five
minutes.
During the inspection tour,
attendees received a comprehensive briefing on the various stages of bridge
construction. This began with the design phase at the Port Said Naval Dockyard,
where the engineering drawings received approval from Bureau Veritas, the
French supervisory authority. Subsequently, the construction phase commenced,
leveraging the combined expertise of the dockyards and companies affiliated
with the Suez Canal Authority to complete the project within a record timeframe.
Attendees also learned about the
contributions of the Suez Canal Authority's engineering department, which
oversaw the installation of concrete moorings and supervised the preparation of
the bridge's access points. These critical tasks were executed in collaboration
with the Suez Canal Ports Authority, the Suez Canal Naval Dockyard (an
affiliate of the Authority), and the Development Company, the project's
contractor.
Lieutenant General Osama Rabie
emphasized that expanding the number of canal crossings is crucial, offering
significant strategic, developmental, and security benefits. He highlighted the
directives of the political leadership to expedite the construction of
additional floating bridges connecting the canal's banks, complementing
existing crossings such as bridges, ferries, and tunnels to serve the needs of
development and the local communities.
Rabie explained that canal
crossings have undergone a remarkable expansion since 2014. The number of
crossings has doubled over the past decade, increasing from 10 to 23,
comprising 8 ferry crossings, 6 tunnels, and 7 floating bridges, in addition to
the Salam Bridge and the Ferdan Bridge.
In his concluding remarks,
Lieutenant General Osama Rabie expressed his gratitude to the Engineering
Authority of the Armed Forces for their invaluable cooperation and their
crucial role in constructing the access roads leading to the floating bridges.
Major General Pilot Akram Galal,
Governor of Ismailia, emphasized that the Egyptian state honours its heroes by
immortalizing their memories through the naming of crossing points and
development projects. This serves as a poignant reminder of the state's
profound appreciation for the sacrifices made to safeguard the nation's
resources.
Galal expressed his sincere appreciation for the Suez Canal Authority's dedicated efforts in expanding the number of canal crossings. These initiatives enhance connectivity between the canal's banks, significantly improving the lives of citizens and advancing developmental and strategic objectives within the Authority's sphere of influence and its commitment to serving the three canal cities.
