Moroccan Summer Gridlock: Tourists and Expats Face 15km Traffic Nightmares in Northern Cities

It is no longer easy to circulate in the cities of Tétouan, M’diq and Martil since the beginning of August. As an example, the ring road of Tétouan turns into a recurring "blockage" that almost completely stops traffic, reports the website Al3omk. Massive traffic jams make circulation difficult on national road No. 16, particularly between Tétouan and Al Hoceïma, as well as the road connecting Tétouan to M’diq or Martil. Moroccans, Moroccans residing abroad (MREs) and tourists are trapped in traffic jams for several kilometers and have to spend hours, especially in the province of Tétouan, between the communes of Amsa and Azla, and between M’diq and Tétouan via the commune of Al Mallalien and the entrance of "Kaponikro".

The same observation applies to the road between Tétouan and Tanger, particularly near the commune of Ain El Hossn, as well as the road between Targha and Kaa Asrâr, in addition to the entrances of Jebha in the province of Chefchaouen. The coastal road between Oued Laou and Tétouan is one of the most affected axes. There, the traffic jam sometimes extends from the Amsa beach to the center of Tétouan, over a distance that can exceed 15 kilometers, with slow-moving lines of cars and dangerous overtaking on the right that threaten the safety of drivers. The intensity of these traffic jams increases between 5 p.m. and midnight, especially on weekends. Most of these traffic jams occur at the Royal Gendarmerie checkpoints.