Mr. Mohtadi added, in a statement to the Maghreb Arabe Presse (MAP), that this structuring project, which falls within the framework of a partnership agreement for the construction of several road axes in the Fès-Meknès region, is divided into four phases, given the geological and geographical conditions of the region.
The official explained that the first phase, which connects Taounate and Ouled Daoud over a distance of 16 kilometers, is under construction with a total cost estimated at 260 million dirhams.
He pointed out that a number of constraints were encountered at the start of the works, notably the diversion of drinking water, electricity, and fiber optic networks, in addition to land expropriation.
He continued that "the works of this first phase are distributed over three axes: the Taounate-Ain Aicha axis, which has reached a 90 percent completion rate, while the progress rate of the Ain Aicha-Ouled Daoud axis has reached 70 percent." The third axis concerns the center of Ain Aicha, where the progress rate is 10 percent after the completion of wastewater drainage framing works by the Independent Water and Electricity Distribution Agency in Fès.
The works for the second phase, connecting Ouled Daoud and the road leading to Bouarous over a distance of 19 kilometers, started in July and have reached a 20 percent progress rate. Mr. Mohtadi stated that the completion of the first phase is expected in April 2025, while the second phase is expected to be completed by the end of 2025 or the beginning of 2026.
Regarding the third phase, which connects the road leading to Bouarous and the center of Ain Kansara over a distance of 19 kilometers, Mr. Mohtadi explained that the study has been approved and that the date for opening the bids has been set for February 2025, with a budget estimated at 330 million dirhams.
The fourth phase of the project, which connects Ain Kansara to the entrance of Fès city over a distance of 17 kilometers, is under study, and works are expected to start in 2025.
In addition to the road axes, the project also includes the construction of 11 engineering structures, including two bridges over the Oued Ouergha at the entrance to Ain Aicha. Mr. Mohtadi confirmed that the total cost of these two bridges, which are 278 meters long, will reach approximately 110 million dirhams.
Another 10 bridges have also been scheduled for 2025, with a budget estimated at 180 million dirhams.
It should be noted that the total cost of the expressway connecting Fès and Taounate, which extends over 71 kilometers, is estimated at 1,560 million dirhams, funded by the Ministry of Equipment and Water (985 million dirhams), the Fès-Meknès region (485 million dirhams), the Provincial Council of Taounate (40 million dirhams), and the Agency for the Promotion and Development of the North (50 million dirhams).
Officials in charge of this project stated that it will contribute to ending the isolation of the Taounate province, enhancing its economic dynamism, improving road safety, and reducing travel time between the cities of Taounate and Fès.
