The Minister also followed up on the conversion of the service road from asphalt to concrete paving to serve trucks, extending from its intersection with the Suez Road to its intersection with the Belbeis Road. He also noted the conversion of the asphalt pavement of the main road to concrete paving, extending from its intersection with the Belbeis Road to its intersection with the Dabaa Axis, with a total length of 152 km. This will allow the road to handle the high traffic loads and densities and ensure the safety of road users.
Al-Wazir assigned Abdel Hamid to oversee the implementation of the comprehensive development of the Regional Ring Road in all its phases, extending over a length of 400 km. This is in addition to his current work implementing and developing road and bridge projects, including the project to complete the development phases of the Ring Road around Greater Cairo.
He also directed the leadership of the Roads and Bridges Authority to prepare a concise timetable for the completion of the entire road in various sectors. The first of these sectors will be the distance from its intersection with the Cairo-Suez Desert Road to its intersection with the Dabaa Axis, where maintenance work is currently underway. Urgent maintenance will continue to be carried out on all other sections of the road on a regular basis.
He added that the concrete road is being implemented in several sectors because the road is built on agricultural land, and the surface has deformed due to overloading. These concrete roads help support various loads, so that their prohibition does not negatively impact freight transport and trade flow, causing higher freight and product prices, especially given the scarcity of bitumen and its high global prices. He noted that President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has directed a study into procuring 1,000 Egyptian-made "trailer" trucks capable of handling traditional loads to serve factories and export domestically and internationally.
The Minister also directed increased security and safety measures on the road, particularly at work sites where maintenance work is being carried out and at diversion sites. He also directed attention to the New Jersey works to separate traffic in both directions and close openings on the New Jersey that lead to random exits or entrances to the Regional Ring Road from agricultural or residential areas. He also directed the intensification of 24-hour guidance, warning, and traffic light signs at work sites. He also directed coordination with the Ministry of Interior regarding the implementation of directives to conduct random testing of all truck and microbus drivers, both on this road and across all roads in the country, whether at fixed checkpoints or toll gates.
He also directed the deployment of mobile traffic patrols and road security personnel to enforce the speed limit, refrain from driving in the wrong direction, and adhere to traffic rules. This will contribute to increasing safety and security rates on this road and across all roads in the country. He also directed coordination with the Traffic Department to educate truck owners not to operate their trucks on Egyptian roads unless their drivers have a valid driver's license and have passed a drug test, and ensure the technical safety of the trucks is fully assured. In coordination with the Ministry of Interior, the number of radars on the road was doubled to help control speed. 900 speeding violations were detected over a four-hour period, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., resulting in smooth traffic flow on the road today.
Al-Wazir also offered his sincere condolences and heartfelt sympathy to the families of the victims of the tragic traffic accident that occurred on the regional road in Ashmoun, Menoufia Governorate, as they were heading to work.