Fez Road Construction Halted: Residents Frustrated as Major Thoroughfares Left Unfinished

Among the abandoned sites is that of Mohammed V Boulevard (composed of two phases). The work at this level has stopped during the first phase with a progress rate of nearly 85%. As for the second phase, it has not even started yet, although the work on this central axis should help decongest traffic during rush hours. The same observation applies to the Ouajriin road, whose work has been suspended.

Faced with the many grievances and complaints from residents of the region, Omar Fassi Fihri, Vice-President in charge of road network development at the Fez municipality, explained that the delay is due to the restrictive measures imposed by the pandemic, especially regarding the supply of raw materials from abroad. He also specified that the projects will soon restart to be completed within six months for Mohammed V Boulevard, and seven months for the Ouajriin road axis, reports les éco.

For the redevelopment of the roads of Fez, a budget of 1 billion dirhams has been allocated, with 500 million dirhams for the first project related to the development and widening of the road network. It is to be carried out between 2019 and 2022, and is a partnership between the Ministry of the Interior, the Regional Council, the Municipality of Fez and the company Al Omrane Fès (delegated project owner).

As for the second project, it is also endowed with an envelope of 500 million dirhams and should be carried out between 2019 and 2020. It concerns the urban upgrading and development of under-equipped neighborhoods. This project will be fully financed by the Ministry of Territorial Planning through the Habitat Solidarity and Urban Integration Fund (FSHIU).

According to a survey by the Regional Investment Center (CRI) of Fez-Meknes carried out as part of the work of the Regional Economic Monitoring Committee (CVER), 80% of the road construction sites in the region have recorded yields of less than 50%. The latest statistics from the Regional Directorate of Housing and Urban Policy (DRHPV) of Fez-Meknes indicate that the activity recorded a 20% drop in cement consumption by the end of April 2020, i.e. 3.8 million tons against 4.8 million tons for the same period in 2019.