Morocco’s $1 Billion Infrastructure Boom: Nador Port Spearheads Mediterranean Ambitions

An envelope of more than 10 billion dirhams has been devoted to road and highway projects around the Nador West Med port. In detail, an envelope of 7.9 billion dirhams has been allocated to the 104 km long Guercif-Nador highway. This highway will have two lanes in each direction, fifteen viaducts, two main interchanges, 53 restorations and 99 culverts. The infrastructure should be delivered in the summer of 2028. In total, 798 million dirhams are intended for the duplication and diversion of the RN16 between Nador and the port, as well as the reinforcement of the RN19 connecting Selouane to Taourirt. The modernization of several strategic routes: the RN16-B between Ajdir and the port, the RN2 connecting Al-Aroui to Kassita via Midar and Driouch, as well as the rehabilitation of the RR610 between Seghanghan and Imzouren are financed to the tune of 1.3 billion dirhams.

A budget of 308 million dirhams is mobilized in order to connect the province of Al Hoceima to the industrial zones of the Nador West Med port, to improve the conditions of mobility and safety for users, particularly heavy goods vehicles, thanks to the elimination of several black spots. The Mediterranean ring road is also the subject of work, in order to connect the province and its Cherif El Idrissi airport to the port complex. This project should be delivered before the end of the year. In parallel, 56 million dirhams have been mobilized for the maintenance of 500 km of rural roads, and 155 million dirhams for the rehabilitation of the RR610. An investment of 820 million dirhams is intended for the duplication of the RN2 over a 70 km section between Al-Aroui and Kassita, with the objective of raising the level of service and road safety on this axis, while preparing its traffic for the expected increase with the activity of the port.

"Such projects are essential for better integration of the cities of Midar, Driouch and Ben Tayeb into the development efforts of the region," says Zouhir Bensebou, regional director of equipment, transport and logistics in the Oriental, to L’Économiste. The physical execution rate of several road projects is now around more than 80%.