Tollgates of 1st exoressway in Morocco

Morocco's network of expressways is administered by the state-owned company Autoroutes du Maroc (ADM). It runs the network on a pay-per-use basis, with toll stations placed along its length. The general speed-limit is 120 km/h.

[edit] History

The first expressway in the country is the A3: Casablanca-Rabat. Construction of the first section started in 1975 but completion of this road between the economic and the administrative capital took 13 years. Originally usage of the road was free of charge. The toll-road system was later introduced as one measure to prevent lengthy construction times (as happened with this first road). Finding investors for new roads would be easier when these roads would generate their own revenue to repay investors.^[1]

[edit] Realized and planned

As of mid 2008, ADM manages 850 km of Morocco's toll roads. Another 570 km are under construction for completion before end 2010^[2]. In 2006, it was announced that ADM will be investing 6.18 billion dirhams ($859 million) to develop its highway network in 2007. ^[3]. These investment packages are part of the objective which aim to complete 1,500 km by 2010.

[edit] Completed roads

The main Moroccan expressways are:

• A1 Rabat-Tanger (223 km)
• A2 Rabat-Fes (207 km)
• A3 Casablanca-Rabat (65 km)
• A7 Casablanca-Agadir via Marrakesh (219 km completed)

Casablanca-Marrakesh completed, the section Marrakech-Agadir is under construction.

• Casablanca-El Jadida (79 km)

The separately developed stretches, used to create the main N-S and E-W links are:^[4][5]

[edit] Under construction

In 2008 the following roads were under construction:^{[5] [6]}

• Fes-Oujda length: 320 km avg.costs/km: 28 MDH period: 2007-2010
• Marrakesh-Agadir length: 232 km avg.costs/km: 34 MDH period: 2006-2009

[edit] Future plans

ADM has far developed plans to start in 2009 with:^[6]

• upgrading the A3 Casablanca-Rabat

by widening the road from 2 x 2 to 2 x 3 lanes over 58 km. Planned completion in 2011

[edit] Road safety

In 2007 762 accidents with casualties were reported, a 5% increase on 2006. The accident-rate per 100 million traveled kiloneters dropped by 20% from 30,2 to 24,1 between these years, but the total number as well as rate of deaths didn't go down.

A break-down of these figures:^[7]

[edit] See also

• List of roads and highways
• List of toll roads
• Société Nationale des Autoroutes du Maroc

[edit] References and notes

1. ^ Website of ADM about its history, visited 4 August 2008.
2. ^ Overview main development figures on ADM site, visited 4 August 2008.
3. ^ "Morocco strengthens infrastructural development". Retrieved on September 28, 2006.
4. ^ Data obtained from key dates
5. ^ ^{a b} development program on ADM site as on 4 August 2008
6. ^ ^{a b} Detailed project figures on ADM site, visited 3 August 2008
7. ^ Official safety figures as reported by ADM, visited 3 August 2008