The Effect of Ring Road Construction On Urban Land Cover Change: Greater Cairo Case Study

Roads are among the major factors that highly influence the pattern of any urban growth, especially in overpopulated mega cities in developing countries. Egypt has become the second most populous country in Africa after Nigeria with a population exceeding 70 millions. Naturally Cairo, the Capital city has grown rapidly becoming the largest urban center in Africa and the Middle East. The construction of Cairo ring road become a must to help in solving the ever increasing traffic jam and congestion. It is expected that Cairo ring road will give the capital city a face lift and serve transport needs not only in greater Cairo but across the whole of Egypt, easing congestion for transport from Upper to Lower Egypt and vice versa eliminating the need to pass through the heart of Cairo, However, it is important to study the impact of constructing the Cairo ring road to help in future developments and plans. It is claimed that the type of buildings associated with new ring roads, in developing countries falls under the category of informal settlements. A major reason behind building new roads is to relieve traffic congestions. Unfortunately, this is being challenged on the basis that new roads usually spur new travel and thus fail to relieve traffic congestions; this is called "induced demand".