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.

Contents 1 History 2 Realized and planned 3 Completed roads 3.1 Under construction 3.2 Future plans 4 Road safety 5 See also 6 References and notes

[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]

Moroccan Expressways

	from		to	length in km.	construction period	avg costs MDH/km	notes
Casablanca			Rabat	62	forming the A3 motorway
	using:	Casablanca	Oued Cherrat	33,5	1975-1978
	and:	Oued Cherrat	Rabat	25,5	1983-1987
Rabat			Larache	150		13
	using:	Rabat	Kénitra	40	1993-1995
	and:	Kénitra	Larache	110	1993-1996
Larache			Sidi El yamani	28	1996-1999
Sidi El yamani			Asilah	15	2000-2002
Asilah			Tanger	30	2002-2005
		together forming the A1 Rabat-Tangier expressway
Rabat			Fès	167		14,4
	using	Rabat	Khemiset	66	1996-1999
	and	Fes	Khemiset	116	1995-1998
Casablanca			Settat	57	1998-2001	17,5
Casablanca bypass				27	2000-2004	25	built in 2 phases
Casablanca			El Jadida	85,5
	using	Casablanca	Had Soualem	16	2001-2004	18
	and	Had Soualem	Tnine Chtouka	35	2002-2005	20
	and	Tnine Chtouka	El Jadida	28	2004-2006	26
Settat			Marrakech	162	2004-2007
Desserte du Port Tanger Med				54	2004-2008	73
Téouan			Fnideq	28	2004-2008	36	last 11 km opened 21-07-08

[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]

Moroccan Expressways Safety

Type accident		2006	2007	% change	notes
serious accidents		726	762	+5%	is accident with serious inj. or deaths
	rate per 100 mln km.	30,2	24.1	-20%
fatal accidents		74	86	+16%	is accident with at least one death
	rate per 100 mln km.	3,1	2,7	-12%
serious injuries		480	535	+11%
	is per 100 mln km.	20,0	16,9	-15%
deaths		90	127	+41%
	is per 100 mln km.	3,7	4,0	+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". http://business.andnetwork.com/index?service=direct/1/Home/recent.titleStory&sp=l52701. Retrieved 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

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