Morocco Advances Plans for Major Highway Linking Beni Mellal to Fez and Meknes

The highway project connecting Beni Mellal to Fès and Meknès is progressing. After the definition studies, it is now time for the preliminary design studies of this future highway connection, divided into two lots: Béni Mellal to Khénifra and Khénifra to the Fès/Meknès bipole. In addition to the preliminary design of the highway infrastructure, these studies will include the definition of the preliminary design of the engineering structures and the execution of topographic work, according to Le Matin. It is also a question of analyzing the corridor selected at the end of the definition study and proposing any modifications taking into account the various existing constraints, existing and planned projects, urban planning documents and soil constraints. It is also planned to examine the possibilities for optimizing the project.

The Béni Mellal - Fès/Meknès highway project is planned in the 2025 National Highway Framework Scheme (SAAN). It is part of a global project to build a central Safi-Marrakech-Béni Mellal–Fès/Meknès - Tanger/Tétouan axis. The realization of this land use planning project will not only accelerate the socio-economic and tourism development of the Central-East of the kingdom, but it will also be beneficial for the provinces of the South-East, through the connection with the Errachidia region.

According to the Ministry of Equipment, this essential link in the central structuring axis Tanger/Tétouan Bipole-Fès/Meknès Bipole-Béni Mellal-Marrakech-Safi, the Béni Mellal-Fès-Meknès Bipole highway is a land use planning project par excellence, as it will offer, due to its geographical position and its connection to the highway network, "significant" opportunities for the acceleration of the socio-economic and tourism development of a large perimeter in the Central-East of the country by strengthening its competitiveness.