American Journal of Applied Sciences 3 (4): 1785-1789, 2006 ISSN 1546-9239 © Science Publications 2006 Corresponding Author: Bassam Al-Helou, Al-Isra University-Faculty of Engineering, Al-Isra University P.O Box 99, 11266 Amman, Jordan 1785 The Economic Feasibility of Rebuilding Al-Isra University Tunnel – Mechanical Factors Bassam Al-Helou Al-Isra University-Faculty of Engineering, Al-Isra University P.O Box 99, 11266 Amman, Jordan Abstract: Economic feasibility is the cornerstone in the decision making on an economic venture. The more positive the economic signs, the less the risk and foreseen losses. This study throws light on some economic advantages of rebuilding Al-Isra tunnel, especially in terms of shortening the car/bus trip by six kilometers go and fro, and in terms of reducing the trip schedule by five minutes. That is by using an alternative road through one of the present tunnels available on the way to the university. The study makes also a comparison between the construction cost and the emanating benefits in terms of saving time and vehicle operation. The sensitivity analysis shows that the B/C ratio is 3.05, and in worst cases it is 2.03. While these results definitely prove the economic feasibility of the project, they also point to the risk reduction of traffic accidents, due to road shortening. Key words: Economical feasibility, tunnel rebuilding, mechanical factors, sensitivity analysis INTRODUCTION Al-Isra University lies on Queen Alia International Airport Road, some 27 kilometers from Amman city centre to the south. In its vehicle schedule, Al-Isra looks unique among the state and private universities. Due to the desert nature of the area, and the scarcity of inhabitation communities, south to the university, vehicles tend to go north toward Amman, while they run along the road to the airport across Al Qastal Bridge when destined to university. In this very case, vehicles would have passed the university campus and thus turn on a parallel road, and subsequently lengthen their distance to the university. Since several tunnels are located on the road before vehicles can come to the university, the renovation of one of them is possible with a view to shortening the two way distance. This study presents a proposal for achieving this goal by reforming one of the closest tunnels to Al-Isra University. It also argues about the economic consequences of this project. Project Description: The idea behind this project is to find an alternate shorter road for vehicles destined to Al- Isra University. The projected road will use the nearest tunnel to the university, and will cut the vehicle trip by six kilometers, and its scheduled time by five minutes as drivers are usually obliged to slow down to make a turn, or run over a bridge, in order to finally enter a course parallel to the highway. Figure (1) shows the required shortened distance both ways between the reconstructed tunnel and the university. The red line in the drawing shows the vehicle direction to the university across Al Qastal Bridge, then makes a turn to the campus, whereas the white line shows the return direction of the vehicle from the university to the north; i.e. to Amman. Figure (2) specifies the road proposed to cross through the reconstructed tunnel up to the campus. The red line in the drawing the road will be used by the university and staff vehicles after the tunnel’s reconstruction, while the white line indicates the vehicles return trip from the university to Amman. Noteworthy is the fact that by the white line there would be no need for the vehicles to go through the reconstructed tunnel, in their return trip, as the reconstructed road meets with the highway. Fundamentals of the Study [1,2] : Data base: No. of faculty members, 166. No. of staff members, 340. No. of vehicles, 52. Assumptions: The average salary of the faculty members is 900 Jordanian Dinar (JD). The average salary of staff members is 250 JD The working hours of faculty members are (5-6) hours. The month is 23 days. The year is 11 months. The values are approximated to Jordanian Dinar. The project’s construction cost: The distance between the reconstructed tunnel and the university campus is approximately one kilometer long. Half of this road needs to be paved, and the other half repaved at six meters wide. According to current cost estimates in other similar construction projects, one square meter of road pavement costs JD5, thus making the total construction cost about JD 30 000,