Possible Autoroutes Map 2015

A7 Agadir to Marrakech: I recently rode the new 183-km A7 motorway extension from Agadir to Marrakech which provides a super quick way to escape the horrors of Agadir It also helps by providing a speedy link between Marrakech and the northern section of the Anti Atlas mountains. Only one fuel station is currently operational though others are under construction.

A9 Fez to Oujda: This is a massive 328-km extension of the Rabar to Fez motorway, linking the extreme east of the country with Fez and the remainder of the motorway network. I viewed several sites along the construction route and it seems the motorway and its 70-plus bridges is likely to be open autumn 2011. Of immediate interest is the stretch between Fez and Taza which helps access to the eastern end of the Middle Atlas range. The motorway is part of a grand scheme called l’Autoroute Maghrébine which is to link Nouakchott in Mauritania with Tobruk in Libya. Sounds great, but until the border with Algeria opens the scheme will be stillborn.

A11 Casablanca to Beni Mellal: Morocco has taken out a €220 million loan from the European Investment Bank to fund a 172-km stretch of motorway from Casablanca to the south-eastern region of Tadla-Azilal. The new stretch of motorway was started in April 2010, should be operational in June 2013, and will provide an ideal entry point to both the southern end of the Middle Atlas mountains around Khenifra, and the central High Atlas areas of the Ait Bougmez valley and the Imilchil highlands. More information from The View from Fez.

A3 Rabat Racade: The French word 'rocade' means bypass and this one is intended to ease the traffic round Rabat, the capital of Morocco.

A5 El Jadida to Safi: The 81-km extension of the main coastal motorway to Safi is projected to be completed by January 2015.


Possible Autoroutes and Expressways by 2020

The map above shows further possibilities including a further 140-km extension of the A5 from Safi to Essaouira by 2020. Tetouan to Fez is another possibility with the objective of reducing the 4.5-hour journey time to 2.5 hours. In the distant future other possibilities include Nador on the northern coast to Taza and yet another extension of the A5 to link Essaouira and Agadir. The good news is that this affects few of the scenic roads in Morocco.