Laayoune’s viaduct over Oued Sakia El Hamra, one of the major structures of the Tiznit-Dakhla Expressway, has reached 57% completion, according to the project’s central director, M’bark Fancha.
Stretching 1,648 metres in length and 21.4 metres in width, the viaduct is the longest road viaduct in Morocco and one of 16 major engineering structures along the expressway.
Construction has reached a technically demanding stage involving the elevated sections, Fancha said, noting that around 900 workers are currently mobilized in three rotating teams to ensure that work continues around the clock.
With an investment of MAD 1.375 billion, the viaduct is expected to ease traffic congestion in Laayoune, improve road safety and facilitate the movement of people and goods, Fancha noted.
The structure will also help reduce the risk of traffic disruptions during flooding of Oued Sakia El Hamra, engineer Fancha said.
Tiznit-Dakhla Expressway project, spanning 1,055 km and backed by an investment of more than MAD 9 billion, is set to improve connectivity across Morocco’s Southern Provinces and strengthen links with the Kingdom’s African hinterland.
The expressway is also expected to support economic activity and investment in the areas it serves, while improving road safety and traffic flow.
Environmental protection measures have also been incorporated into the project to limit the impact of construction on the biodiversity of the Oued Sakia El Hamra wetland, a Ramsar site since 2019.