Jal El Dib’s alternative: a bridge or a tunnel?

The cabinet granted the Council of Development and Reconstruction a grace period of three weeks to prepare a comparative study to decide whether to build two opposite U-shaped bridges or build a tunnel to replace Jal El Dib Bridge.       

The study is expected to include comparisons on the technical, financial and executive fronts. However, the biggest drawback to the two bridges project is the extensive land purchases needed. As for the tunnel, the blueprint was designed by six local engineers who consider that a tunnel would solve the problem and would add a nice esthetic touch to the region.       

The opposite U-shaped bridges will take 14 months after land purchases while the tunnel’s construction will take 2 and a half years following the conversion of all infrastructure networks and the settlement of the groundwater and sea water issues below the tunnel.          

The final obstacle pertaining to the project is the cost which will be a determining factor of any decision taken by the cabinet.