Feasibility Study Begins for Marrakech-Ouarzazate Tunnel Project, Promising Shorter Travel Times

This study, which should last four months, aims to determine all the possible routes of the Ourika tunnel. To recall, it was the former Minister of Equipment, Abdelkader Amara, who selected the town of Ourika to host this project, to the detriment of Tichka. A choice motivated by two essential reasons.

The first is related to the technical, economic and environmental studies of the project, which have revealed that the construction of a tunnel in Ourika would reduce the travel time between Marrakech and Ouarzazate by one hour for motorists and about an hour and a half for freight vehicles.

This option, however, implies an increase in the cost of the project, which is estimated at nearly 10 billion dirhams. Contrary to Ourika, the Tichka option would only reduce the travel time between the two cities by 20 minutes.

The second reason mentioned concerns the geotechnical standards of Tichka, which would present greater complexity compared to those of Ourika. The Ourika tunnel project aims to ensure safety and fluidity on this road axis connecting Marrakech to the provinces of Ouarzazate, Zagora and Tinghir.