Rabat – The new Sidi Makhlouf road hopper in Rabat is scheduled to be put into service next Sunday, November 21.
The inauguration of the underground tunnel at the intersection of Hassan II Avenue and Al-Alaouyine Avenue, will take place on Sunday from 10:00 a.m. local time, the municipality of Rabat said in a statement.
“The pace of work was accelerated in compliance with technical standards to reduce completion times, which made it possible to move the site forward in record time,” the statement added.
Local officials and residents hope the new Sidi Makhlouf road hopper will facilitate road traffic to and from the Hassan II Bridge in a safe and efficient manner.
Located near the Mohammed V Mausoleum, the project to build the hopper was unveiled on October 8 for a maximum period of two months.
The initial cost of the Sidi Makhlouf project was set at just under $4 million.
In its statement, the municipality of Rabat underlined that the acceleration of the work is the result of joint efforts of the various stakeholders.
The municipality then highlighted the role of various partners, including the Agency for the Development of the Bouregreg Valley, which mobilized the necessary funding for the tunnel project. It also noted the role of the Societe Rabat Region Amenagements and the Rabat-Sale Tramway Company.
The passageway is part of a larger infrastructure development initiative throughout Rabat named “Rabat City of Lights, Capital of Construction.”
King Mohammed VI launched the initiative in 2015 to promote Rabat’s heritage while modernizing transport equipment, revitalizing economic activities, and strengthening road infrastructure.
The first phase of the project included redeveloping the bypass linking the Casablanca-Rabat highway; building an urban bypass linking Rabat and Sale; installing Zaer-Agdal high voltage lines beneath the Abderrahim Bouabid, Ibn Rochd, and Maa El Aynine avenues; and developing the Abderrahim Bouabid avenue.
The initiative aims to reduce traffic congestion, improve road safety, and positively impact the environment in the capital city while strengthening the urban transport network.
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