The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) has inaugurated the Martyr Major Amir Ibrahim Awadallah Bridge (Western Bridge) at kilometer 86.6 along the canal.
The move comes in line with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi’s directives to expand the number of crossing points to and from Sinai, and coinciding with Egypt’s celebrations of the October War victory.
The opening ceremony was attended by SCA Chairman Admiral Osama Rabie, Ismailia Governor Akram Galal, and the Norwegian in Cairo Ambassador Erik Høiem, alongside senior military officials.
The new bridge complements the existing eastern bridge across the New Suez Canal, forming a complete new axis linking the canal’s central sector.
The floating bridge spans 280 meters in length and 15 meters in width, comprising four pontoons weighing a total of 1,650 tonnes. It can carry up to 100 tonnes per vehicle, accommodating a maximum of four heavy transport trucks simultaneously.
Designed by the Port Said Shipyard and approved by the French Bureau Veritas (BV), the bridge was built through collaboration between the Port Tawfik Shipyard, various SCA companies, and several private-sector partners under the supervision of the Port Said Shipyard.
Vice Admiral Rabie emphasized that Egypt gives top priority to developing Sinai and linking it with the Nile Valley through new crossing axes.
He highlighted that the SCA has doubled the number of crossing points to 25, compared to just 10 in 2014. These include 8 ferry routes, 6 tunnel axes, and 13 floating bridges distributed across eight locations.
The newly inaugurated bridge, the third crossing in the canal’s central sector, connects both the original and new canal routes, complementing crossings at kilometers 65.5 and 70.3. It represents a strategic addition supporting Egypt’s developmental, security, and logistical objectives.
Rabie expressed gratitude to all agencies involved in the construction of 15 new floating bridges, noting that six have already been completed, through joint efforts between SCA subsidiaries and national private companies.
The projects, he said, were completed in record time in coordination with the Armed Forces Engineering Authority, which oversaw main road development.
For his part, Ismailia Governor Akram Galal said Sinai remains a “precious part of the nation”, honouring its martyrs by naming major development projects and new crossing points after them.
He lauded the SCA for its role in advancing development efforts in the Canal cities and Sinai, noting that the new crossings will play a vital role in enhancing mobility, supporting economic growth, and improving public services for citizens and businesses alike.
