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Rabat – The last stretch of the Tiznit-Dakhla expressway opened today, January 10, with a 114-kilometer section that links Maader near Tiznit to Guelmim, passing through Sidi Ifni.
The project took nearly a decade to complete. This final segment was finished last November, but officials kept it closed to add road signs and some final touches. The 1,055-kilometer expressway is now fully operational.
The project’s central director, M’barek Fencha, explained to Le360, a Moroccan news outlet, that the new road includes three main parts, saying: “Laayoune-Dakhla, 500 kilometres long, was finished years ago for 1 billion dirhams.”
The second section connects Laayoune to Guelmim and spans 436 kilometers. It cost MAD five billion ($500 million) and included complex engineering. Crews built many bridges over rivers navigating tough terrains and obstacles.
The newly opened section from Tiznit to Guelmim completes the expressway. This 114-kilometer road serves a pressing need, connecting northern and southern provinces to streamline travel and trade.
King Mohamed VI set this MAD 10-billion ($1 billion) project in motion in 2015, which is said to be in line with international safety standards. It forms part of a larger development programme for Morocco’s southern regions.
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Meanwhile, the new Rabat-Casablanca freeway will be ready in 2030, according to Nizar Baraka, the Minister of Equipment and Water.
The freeway will connect Rabat and Casablanca, making travel between the two cities easier. It will also pass near the new Hassan 2nd stadium being built in Benslimane. Baraka said, “This is a major added value that will greatly enhance the stadium, which will be the largest in Africa.”
Besides the Rabat-Casablanca freeway, there are other important road projects underway. The Guercif-Nador freeway is also in the works, along with the Casablanca-Berrechid freeway. A 30-kilometer stretch between Tit Mellil and Berrechid is already under construction.
Baraka also talked about a new freeway project between Fez and Marrakech. This road will go through Beni Mellal and Khenifra, he said.
The Department of Public Works wants to expand Morocco’s motorway network to 3,000 kilometres in the coming years, with a MAD 20-billion budget ($2 billion).
Road maintenance is also a priority. The Ministry spends 3 billion dirhams each year to fix and improve 2,000 kilometers every year.
These projects are part of Morocco’s plan to improve roads, create jobs, and support the economy and trade.
