Al-Ferdan New Bridge

The idea of establishing the new bridge, "Al-Ferdan" emerged in 1994 when the Cabinet approved the National Scheme for Sinai Development till the year 2017, necessitating a link between the two banks of the Suez Canal i.e. Sinai and the Nile Valley.

The new bridge, however, is deemed to be the focal point of agricultural and industrial development in Sinai, especially following the digging of Al-Salam Canal and cultivating nearly half a million feddans. Such bridge will do a lot, as the best location was selected in Al-Ferdan to go in line with extending railway links between Ismailia and Rafah at 225 km.

Background
It is well known that Al-Ferdan new bridge is not the first of its kind established to serve the railway and other Suez Canal services, but the fifth to be built in the same site. The first one was built in 1920 and remained in order till 1943. Breadth of the Canal bed at that time was 25 meters and the two banks were 128 meters apart. while navigation gate was 42 meters and the bridge length itself hit 146 meters.

The second was erected in 1943 which remained in service till 1952 when the navigation gate hit 67 meters and the length 151 meters. The third bridge was built in 1952 to remain only 11 years. In 1963 the fourth bridge was erected at the same site, as it remained in service till the 1967 June war and it was 218 meters long while navigation gate hit 148 meters.

The last one
This bridge is mobile, as it is revolving to allow the biggest carriers and ships to transit the Canal safely. The bridge will open before trains and cars twice daily each time for three hours. It is the fifth among bridges erected in the same site since 1920. It will enter the service in 1999 with floor breadth of 164 meters, the distance between the two banks hits 316 meters. It is located in Al-Ferdan area which is off south Qantara by 48.5 km, consisting of 4 lanes with total 4 km length over land and across the Canal.

It is deemed to be the longest mobile metal bridge in the world as the metal part crossing the Canal hits 600 meters and middle navigation gate hits 320 meters. It will be operated in cooperation of both the Egyptian Railway Authority and the Suez Canal Authority.

Privileges
It will provide easy and streamline transport movement which is expected to take place in the future as Ahmed Hamdi Tunnel will not afford any more to serve such traffic. It will, also, serve commodities and goods transport between the Middle East countries and north Africa countries. This bridge is designed to be expanded later in the future as the situation dictates.

It will extend great help for both oil fields and the mineral resources mines in Sinai. In view of the political importance of linking between Asia and Africa, this bridge will facilitate connecting both continents via the international coastal highway cutting through west Africa's countries, which is an aim of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and the Arab League as well, with a view to realizing peace and cooperation goals in the region.

The bridge costs amount to L.E 472 million, and it is to be phased in 30 months. The bridge pillars were selected carrying the touch of Pharaonic style, as it will be two obelisks with 160-meter high which gives wonderful face to the entire region.

Alexandria Library Revival Project

In 1974, the thought began to execute an ambitious project aiming at establishing a big library that would commemorate Alexandria's historical library ands that would be on the same footing with modern knowledge and scientific revolution. The executive committee was organised by virtue of a decree from the chairman of Alexandria University in January, 1987 then a high national committee was formed by virtue of the Prime Minister's decree, followed by a decree from the President in December 14,1988 to form the General Organization for Alexandria Library which became responsible for implementing this giant project.

President Mubarak, accompanied by the UNESCO General Director, laid the foundations of the new library in June 26, 1988 announcing the official start of the project. The project was strongly consolidated by the call for support issued by UNESCO to world countries, institutions and individuals and an International Committee for Supporting the Funding Campaign was formed upon the request of Egypt. It is almost materialized now.