The Suez Canal Corridor Development Project in Egypt aims at more effectively capitalising on the Suez Canal, creating an integrated industrial and logistics zone to boost the country’s economic growth. A rapid and easy link between both banks of the Canal was essential in this project. Thus, the developers have planned the construction of high capacity road and rail tunnels at three locations: Port Said (North), Suez (South), and Ismailia (halfway between the two others).

With a total length of 5.8 km, its deepest point reaching 53 m under sea level, an internal diameter of 11.4m, and two lanes in each direction, the Ismailia Twin-tube Road Tunnel is undoubtedly the most impressive part of the development. Especially considering the environmental challenges faced, as temperatures rise to up to 40°C, and large amounts of sand have to be dealt with.

To be operated safely, an infrastructure project of this nature requires a truckload of electro-mechanical equipment: lighting, road signage, ventilation, communication, fire detection, firefighting pump systems, smoke extraction, and a centralized control centre. All of them must be fully operational in all circumstances, even in the case of a mains failure.

That is the reason why the client chose to equip the tunnel with 4 KINOLT dynamic No-Break systems. Apart from the impressive constant heat-resistance of the units, the air inlets of the machine rooms are provided with performant sand traps and dust filters to deal with the vast amounts of sand at the site.