Press release
23 December 2024The baptism ceremony for the Cleopatra Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) was held on September 3, 2008.
The event was attended by Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Nasif, Minister of Transportation Mohamed Mansour and representatives of the client, the National Authority for Tunnels (NAT). The ceremony took place at the launch pit (see photo). Lead contractor VINCI Construction Grands Projets (28.5 %) is currently fulfilling the civil engineering mandate for Phase 1 on Line 3 of the Cairo subway in conjunction with Arab Contractors, Bouygues and Orascom.
Line 3 of the Cairo subway will cross the capital from west to east. With its 33 kilometres of track and 29 stations, it will connect the airport, located 22 kilometres northwest of downtown near Heliopolis, to the Mohandessin neighbourhood at Guiza. The project is divided into four phases. The first phase, currently under way, consists of 4.5 kilometres of tunnel construction and 5 underground stations. This initial phase will connect Abassya and Attaba by 2010.
The next step is set for mid September with Cleopatra’s first cutting-wheel rotation – a month and a half ahead of schedule!
VINCI Construction Grands Projets has already participated in the construction of the first two subway lines in Cairo. Line 1, built in the early 1980s, consists of 34 stations (including 4 underground) and runs 44 kilometres from El Marg to Helwann. Line 2, built in the 1990s, consists of 20 stations (12 underground) and runs 22 kilometres from Mounib to Shubra. Respectively, Lines 1 and 2 carry 1.5 million and 1.2 million passengers a day.
