KSA, Egypt pressing ahead with causeway project
Project revived after former Egyptian president had scrapped it over security fears
Egypt’s Transport Minister Mohamed Rashad Al-Mateny has said Saudi Arabia and Egypt are set to proceed with the proposed $3bn causeway project between the two countries.
The minister said a technical committee has been scheduled to meet in late September to discuss the first steps towards implementing the project.
The causeway was shelved by Egypt’s former president, Hosni Mubarak, who had strongly opposed the project because of security worries.
The 32km causeway is envisaged to start from Ras Nassrani in the Egyptian resort of Sharm El-Sheikh and pass by Tiran Strait before reaching Ras Hamid near Tabuk in northern Saudi Arabia.
Last March, the Saudi Al Watan daily said that the Saudi Binladin Group was expected to implement the project.
Fouad Abdel Aziz, former chairman of Egypt’s Roads and Bridges Authority, who is in charge of the project’s file, told the newspaper that he had discussed all the engineering and technical aspects of the project with the Saudi Arabian company.
