Berrechid–Beni Mellal expressway

The Berrechid–Beni Mellal expressway (A4) was inaugurated in 2015. It runs mainly parallel with the existing Route Nationale 11

A4 motorway
Route information
Length173 km (107 mi)
Existed2014–present
Major junctions
West endBerrechid
East endBeni Mellal
Highway system
Roads of Morocco

History

Start of building

On 12 April 2010 King Mohammed VI of Morocco formally started the building-activities for this 173 km (107 mi) long toll-road. Between this date and the opening in 2015, some 35 billion cubic metres (1,200×10^9 cu ft) of soil/ground weree moved.[1][2]

Financing

The total building costs are budgeted on 6.050 million Dirham and these investments are made via: FADES: The Arab Fund for Social and Economical Development,
the European Investment Bank and the government of China. This investment will be retrieved via the income from the toll-road, the exploration of the rest- and service stations. Three service-stops will be built lying max. 52 km (32 mi). apart from each other. The five parts were meant to be built at the same time so that the whole road can be opened for traffic in 2013. However, due to expropriation issues, Khouribga - Beni Mellal section opened in 2014 and the inauguration of Berrechid - Khouribga section was postponed to 2015.

This investment is part of the main-project plan 2008–2015 between the ADM and the government of Morocco. This masterplan was signed on 8 July 2008 during a formal meeting which was attended by King Mohammed VI of Morocco.

Construction

The first section between Berrechid and Ben Ahmed (38.6 kilometres (24.0 mi)) was built by China International Water & Electric Corporation (CWE). The second section, between Ben Ahmed and Khouribga (38.5 kilometres (23.9 mi)), and the third section between Khouribga and Oued Zem (33 kilometres (21 mi)), were built by four local Moroccan contractors: Sintram, LRN, Seprob and the SNCE. The fourth one between Oued Zem and Kasba Tadla (40 kilometres (25 mi)) was built by a Moroccan contractor, Houar. The fifth and last one, between Kasba Tadla and Beni Mellal ( 22 kilometres (14 mi)) was by another Chinese contractor, Covec.

Purpose

This expressway aims to support the development of Béni Mellal-Khénifra region and to reduce road traffic on the National road 11. This expressway links Beni Mellal, capital of Béni Mellal-Khénifra region, to Casablanca, the economic capital and the largest city in Morocco, serving the province of Khouribga, an area of great industrial potential thanks to large phosphate reserves. The Béni Mellal-Khénifra region's agricultural and tourism sectors are also expected to benefit from this expressway.

With traffic estimated at 3,700 vehicles per day (2018), the expressway serves the cities of Ben Ahmed, Khouribga, Oued Zem, Bejaad and Kasba Tadla. It includes 7 junction and 3 bridges across the Oum Errabiaa, Oued Derna and Oued Oum Errabia Bouqroum rivers as well as 28 underground and aerial passages.

Route
Ben Ahmed exit on the A4

The total length of the new expressway from Berrechid to Beni Mellal is 173 km (107 mi).

References and footnotes
  1. News-item Archived 22 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine on ADM website, visited 6 June 2010
  2. Project webpage on ADM website on the Berrechid-Beni Mellal expressway Archived 4 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine, (French), visited 17 March 2012
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