Several projects have thus been launched since 2004. For example, we can cite the doubling of certain lanes over 32 km, for a budget of around 192 million dirhams, the widening, strengthening and resurfacing of roads over 337 km for 232 million dirhams, the construction of 32 structures for 193 million dirhams, the strengthening of the road network and the construction of 28 structures for 102 million dirhams, the development of 12 intersections for a budget estimated at 206 million dirhams, the construction of protective walls over 17.5 km for 15 million dirhams and the creation of cycle paths over 21.6 km for 5.4 million dirhams.
The prefecture of Meknes saw the completion of several road projects between 2009 and 2010, with the specific aim of improving the road network and, consequently, contributing to the fight against the scourge of road accidents. Thus, we can cite the doubling of the national road No. 13 Meknes-El Hajeb, the construction of 3 structures and 8 intersections over 28 km for 157 million dirhams, the doubling of the regional road 718 between Meknes and Ouislane with 3 intersections over 3.7 km for 157 million dirhams, the doubling of the national road No. 13 at the entrance to Meknes via Moulay Driss over 4.7 km for an amount of around 33.8 million dirhams, the doubling of the regional road No. 718 at the entrance to Meknes via Toulal over 1.3 km for a budget estimated at 20 million dirhams and vertical signage through the installation of 1,250 signs and horizontal signage through the marking of 300,000 m for an amount of 2.5 million dirhams.
However, motorists, and pedestrians too, are wondering why the traffic lights, whether old or newly installed, are malfunctioning at various intersections. Are the lamps of poor quality? Is the maintenance service not doing its job as it should? Is there a reason we are unaware of? Because not a week goes by without us witnessing, with astonishment, breakdowns here or there.
This is not without disrupting traffic and sometimes creating traffic jams, particularly during rush hours.
In the opinion of many, it is absolutely not impossible to have traffic lights that work without interruption like elsewhere. We must not lose sight of the fact that repeated breakdowns cause more work for traffic officers, especially when there are traffic jams or when a priority vehicle (ambulance transporting a patient or an accident victim) is trying to clear a path. It is urgent that the officials concerned look seriously into the problem of traffic lights to develop the conduct to adopt and the action to take to avoid frequent interventions. This will be beneficial on many levels; costs will be greatly reduced and the urban body will be spared an extra effort without added value.
The industrial zone of Sidi Slimane Moul Al Kifane has just been enriched with a new industrial unit, namely a modern slaughterhouse, the first of its kind in Morocco, for the production of red meat. Aziz Akhennouch, Minister of Agriculture and Maritime Fisheries, accompanied by Mohamed Faouzi, Wali of the Meknes-Tafilalet region, and the Governor of the prefecture of Meknes, presided over the inaugural ceremony of this important industrial project, born following an agreement concluded between the Ministry of Agriculture and Maritime Fisheries and the interprofessional body for the upgrading and support of professional organisations and the red meat sector. This agreement is part of the implementation of the programme contract for the development of the red meat sector. The Sidi Slimane Moul Al Kifane slaughterhouse, included in an integrated project for the production of bovine red meat by the company Ranch Adarouch, and where the operations of slaughtering, processing and marketing of red meat will be carried out, is equipped with a cutting room. It is built on an area of 11,219 m2 for a budget estimated at 50,000,000 dirhams and has allowed for the creation of no less than 100 jobs.
