Environmental assessment of road alignments based on multicriteria scoping: a case study of Cairo—Ain Sukhna freeway

This research develops a multicriteria scoping framework by which alternative road alignments can be assessed, using the Cairo-Ain Sukhna freeway in Egypt as an example. Four alternative alignments were assessed using 60 comparative criteria covering technical, accessibility, economic and financial matters, development, safety and security, severance, social considerations, as well as natural and man-made environmental aspects. Baseline information was collected from maps, site visits and consultants' reports. A comparative analysis ranks the alternative alignments based on their potential impacts. Weightings, giving higher weights to environmental aspects, are applied to the rankings, and the best alternative is identified. The multicriteria scoping framework proved a sufficient tool for assessing alternative road alignments and for selecting the most environmentally preferable one.