Suez Canal Bridge

The Suez Canal Bridge, also known as the Egyptian–Japanese Friendship Bridge, Al Salam Bridge, Al Salam Peace Bridge or Mubarak Peace Bridge, is a road bridge crossing the Suez Canal at El-Qantara, whose name means "the bridge" in Egyptian Arabic. The bridge links the continents of Africa and Asia.

Not to be confused with El Ferdan Railway Bridge.
Suez Canal Bridge
Coordinates30.828248°N 32.317572°E / 30.828248; 32.317572
CarriesFour lanes vehicular traffic[1]
CrossesSuez Canal
LocaleEl Qantara, Egypt
Owner
  • General Authority for Roads, Bridges & Transport
  • Ministry of Transport and Communication
[1]
Maintained byGeneral Authority for Roads, Bridges & Transport, Ministry of Transport and Communication
Characteristics
DesignCable-stayed bridge semi-fan arrangement, H-pylon, hollow box[1]
MaterialSteel and reinforced concrete[1]
Total length3.9 km (2.4 mi)[1]
Width22.8 m (75 ft)[2]
Height154 m (505 ft) (pylons)[1]
Longest span404 m (1,325 ft)[1]
Clearance below70 m (230 ft)[1]
History
DesignerKajima
Constructed byConsortium consisting of:
[3]
Construction start1995
OpenedOctober 9, 2001 (October 9, 2001)
Location

Design and construction
Detail view of one of the main pylons

The bridge was built with assistance from the Japanese government. The main contractor was Kajima Corporation.[3]

The Japanese grant, accounting for 60% of the construction cost (or 13.5 billion yen), was agreed to during the visit of then-President Hosni Mubarak to Japan in March 1995, as part of a larger project to develop the Sinai Peninsula. Egypt bore the remaining 40% (9 billion yen). The bridge was opened in October 2001.

The bridge, which has a 70-metre (229 ft 8 in) clearance over the canal and is 3.9 kilometres (2.4 mi) long, consists of a 400-metre (1,300 ft) cable-stayed main span and two 1.8-kilometre (1.1 mi) long approach spans.

The height of the two main pylons supporting the main span is 154 metres (505 ft) each. The towers were designed in the shape of Pharaonic obelisks.

The clearance under the bridge is 70 metres (229 ft 8 in). Therefore, the maximum height of ships that can pass through the Suez Canal (Suezmax) is 68 metres (223 ft 1 in) above the waterline.[4]

Significant developments in the region

The Suez Canal Bridge was part of a major drive to develop the areas surrounding the Suez Canal, including other projects such as the Ahmed Hamdi Tunnel under the Suez Canal (completed in 1981), the El Ferdan Railway Bridge, and the Suez Canal overhead powerline crossing.

References
  1. Suez Canal Bridge at Structurae
  2. Matsumoto T, Mukoyama T, Yonezawa E, Yamazaki T, Fujita T (2018). "On Orthotropic Steel Deck Pavement of Suez Canal Bridge". Journal of JSCE. 6: 49–68. doi:10.2208/journalofjsce.6.1_49. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  3. "Kajima's Spectacular Suez Canal Bridge Project" (PDF). Kajima. Retrieved March 16, 2014.
  4. "SCA – Rules of Navigation". www.suezcanal.gov.eg. Retrieved 2022-10-29.
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