The Tiznit-Dakhla highway is part of the new development model for the southern regions, launched by His Majesty King Mohammed VI on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Green March. This project aims to structure National Road No. 1 over a length of 1,055 kilometers.
It was the subject of a partnership agreement signed in February 2015 between three ministries (Interior, Economy and Finance, Equipment, Transport, Logistics and Water) and four regions, for a total amount of approximately 8.5 billion dirhams. The agreement sets the execution period between 2016 and 2021. The study phase took place between 2016 and 2018, followed by the phase of launching tenders and validating contracts in 2017-2018. Work began in 2017 and is currently ongoing.
The project is divided into two distinct sections:
- The highway between Tiznit and Laâyoune: This section includes the Tiznit-Kelmi stretch (0 to 114 km) with a roundabout for the cities of Tiznit and Klemim, and the Klemim-Laâyoune stretch (114 to 520 km), adjacent to National Road No. 1, with necessary adjustments due to topographical constraints.
- The widening of National Road No. 1 between Laâyoune and Dakhla: This stretch (1040 km) will see an improvement in the quality of the road connecting Laâyoune to Dakhla via Boujdour.
The project also includes the construction of 13 engineering structures, the doubling of three existing structures, and the development of roundabouts for the cities crossed (Tiznit, Klemim, Tan-Tan, Laâyoune).
This highway aims to provide a road axis that meets international standards, with a high level of safety. It will reduce travel time, avoid interruptions due to flooding and sand accumulation, and facilitate the transport of goods between the south and major national production and distribution centers, while creating rest areas and truck parking.
This project will be an important lever for investments, with a direct and positive impact on an estimated population of 2.2 million people spread across 10 provinces, while contributing to the socio-economic development of the four regions of Morocco: Souss-Massa, Guelmim-Oued Noun, Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra, and Dakhla-Oued Eddahab.