Launch of Work on the Third Phase of the Fes-Taounate Highway at a Cost of 324 Million Dirhams
On Tuesday, the Minister of Equipment and Water, Nizar Baraka, officially launched the work on the third section of the highway connecting Fes and Taounate, which spans 19 kilometers and has a budget of 324 million dirhams. This segment will connect provincial road No. 5319 to the entrance of the Ain Qansara commune, as part of a project to dualize the highway that extends over 73 kilometers with a total budget estimated at 1.56 billion dirhams.
During a work visit to the project site accompanied by the governor of Taounate, Saleh Daha, the minister emphasized that the construction of this highway will reduce the travel time between the two cities and enhance the safety of road users, thereby contributing to the reduction of traffic accidents in the region. He explained that the project is being implemented in partnership with the Fes-Meknes region council and is part of the Fes-Meknes regional development program, consisting of four phases.
The minister also reviewed other road projects in the Taounate region, which include infrastructure works and the expansion and strengthening of roads, with investments ranging from 82 to 380 million dirhams. The head of the Fes-Taounate highway preparation, Mohamed Muhtadi, indicated that the first phase connecting Taounate to Ouled Daoud, covering 16 kilometers, is 85% complete, while the second phase, stretching 19 kilometers, is about 35% complete.
Muhtadi reported that the fourth phase, which connects Ain Qansara to the entrance of Fes, is still under study, and mentioned that there are 11 engineering structures within the project, including a major structure measuring 264 meters over the Oued Wargha, which is currently under construction, alongside 10 others in the final stages of design.
He noted that the project will have a positive impact on the city of Taounate by reducing travel time between Fes and Taounate, improving road safety, and facilitating the movement of people and goods.
As part of efforts to develop the road network, the minister, along with the governor, presided over the signing of a partnership agreement for the construction of the bypass road for the city of Taounate, with a budget of approximately 70 million dirhams. This agreement aims to improve traffic flow within the city and enhance the economic attractiveness of the region in support of local infrastructure development programs.
