The viaduct over Oued Sakia El Hamra in Laayoune, the longest road viaduct in Morocco, is now 57% complete, the project’s central director, M’bark Fancha, told MAP.
Stretching 1,648 metres in length and 21.4 metres in width, it is one of 16 major engineering structures along the Tiznit-Dakhla Expressway.
Work has reached a technically demanding stage involving the elevated sections, Fancha said. Around 900 workers are mobilized in three rotating teams to keep construction going around the clock.
The MAD 1.375 billion viaduct is expected to ease traffic congestion in Laayoune, improve road safety and facilitate the movement of people and goods, Fancha noted. It will also help reduce the risk of traffic disruptions when Oued Sakia El Hamra floods.
The 1,055 km expressway, 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. It is also expected to support economic activity and investment in the areas it serves.
The project includes environmental protection measures to limit the impact of construction on the biodiversity of the Oued Sakia El Hamra wetland, a Ramsar site since 2019.