Morocco-Spain Tunnel Reaches Decisive Milestone, But Not for 2030

The technical viability of this infrastructure linking Punta Paloma, near Tarifa, to Punta Malabata, on the outskirts of Tangier, has been validated. The 42-kilometer route will include an underwater section of 27.7 kilometers reaching a depth of 475 meters. According to the media outlet La Razón, the complex will feature three parallel galleries: two reserved exclusively for passenger and freight rail traffic, and a third dedicated to emergency services. The option of allowing private automobile traffic has been definitively ruled out by engineers.

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The financial scope of this colossal project is estimated between 7.5 and 10 billion euros by the Spanish Society for Studies on Fixed Communication of the Strait of Gibraltar (SECEGSA). The main technical obstacle remains the Camarinal threshold, a geologically unstable underwater elevation. To address these uncertainties, the Spanish government has allocated 553,187 euros so that the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) can create a three-dimensional model of the area. In March 2026, the Council of Ministers also authorized an additional envelope of 1.73 million euros to continue engineering studies.

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Construction of this structure will unfold across several technical phases. Simply excavating a first exploratory gallery will require between six and nine years of work. This timeline makes the infrastructure unavailable for the FIFA World Cup jointly organized by Spain and Morocco in 2030, pushing the service launch horizon beyond 2035. The completion of this strategic connection must overcome these geological uncertainties and potential diplomatic tensions before becoming reality.