Strategic Economic Zone along the Suez Canal
76,000 km² of development area along the canal form the foundation for a new industrial and technology corridor in Egypt.
Markets
Priorities
Tunnels for Ismailia
Expanding the Suez Canal into a strategic economic zone requires highly complex tunnelling and infrastructure technologies that combine precise planning with state‑of‑the‑art construction methods.
Trusted Experts in Tunnelling
With our globally recognised expertise in designing, reviewing and supervising challenging soft‑ground tunnels, we play a central role in ensuring the successful delivery of the Suez Canal crossings.
On 5 August 2014, the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi announced the launch of a new mega-project: A new canal parallel to the Suez Canal with several tunnel crossings between Sinai, Ismailia and Port Said. This would be accompanied by new ports and industrial estates to intensify international trade through Egypt and stimulate the country’s economic growth.
The new Suez Canal was opened just 1 year later, but that isn’t the end of the project. An additional 76,000 km² on either side of the canal are to be developed for industrial and technology estates, which will be supported by crossings under the canal to transform the region around the Suez Canal into a world-class economic zone.
The Engineering Authority of the Armed Forces of the Arab Republic of Egypt commissioned CDM Smith with design review and approval and construction supervision for the tunnels in Ismailia, including a factory for the precast segmental lining. Two road tunnels with two lanes each connecting Ismailia with the new eastern trade area in Sinai are to be constructed at a depth of 60 m.
We provided tunnel planning, design and supervision, as well as applying our extensive experience in tunnelling equipment machines and open tunnelling, during this mega-project's 7-year construction period and first two years of operation.
Together with our local partner, ACE, we help ensure a safe, high-quality and fast connection from North Africa to Asia via the Sinai Peninsula to last a century.
Haider Fadhel, Project Manager
Project Contacts
Have questions about the project or our services? Our experts are happy to help.
Rudolf Wernecke
Senior Project Manager
Senior Project Manager in geotechnics, specialising in ground investigations, foundation consulting and soil improvement techniques.
Sven Kessler
Project Manager
Project Manager specialised in ground freezing, with extensive expertise in geotechnics, foundations and ground improvement.