Assahafa.com
The ambitious Ourika tunnel project linking Marrakech to Ouarzazate has encountered significant technical obstacles, with preparatory studies failing to advance due to geological complexities, Equipment and Water Minister Nizar Baraka confirmed Monday before the House of Representatives.
The 10-kilometer underground passage through the High Atlas mountains has stalled at the preliminary study phase. Two successive public tenders awarded to specialized companies have failed to produce usable geological assessments of the construction site.
“We are talking today about the Ourika tunnel, whose reality requires an extremely rigorous technical approach,” Baraka told deputies during oral questions. “It is a tunnel with a planned length of 10 kilometers, receiving particular attention in terms of technical feasibility.”
The most recent contract, awarded in 2023 to the Moroccan-Turkish consortium LPEE-Drillon TR for MAD 32 million ($3.2 million) with a 12-month deadline, was cancelled after the contractors proved unable to conduct geotechnical investigations within the proposed tunnel route. The previous tender also failed to deliver conclusive results.
Baraka explained that while initial studies have been completed, his department is currently conducting an in-depth evaluation of the site’s geological conditions. “This step is essential to guarantee the safety and quality of the structure before the actual launch of work,” he stated.
The minister acknowledged that the company initially responsible for the work was unable to carry it out properly, causing a temporary blockage of the project. He cited major difficulties from the fundamental phase of terrain assessment.
A decades-old challenge
The current setbacks revive a decades-old challenge. Successive tunnel studies have stalled or failed since the 1970s, laying bare the persistent geological and technical constraints that have long complicated the construction of major underground infrastructure in the High Atlas.
Despite these setbacks, the government remains committed to the project, which carries an estimated cost of MAD 10 billion ($1 billion). The tunnel route includes 80 kilometers of access roads and the construction of 10 bridges.
The Ourika option was selected over the alternative Tizi N’Tichka route despite higher costs. While the Tichka alternative would have cost MAD 7 billion ($700 million), requiring 50 kilometers of new roads and one bridge, the Ourika tunnel offers superior time savings and projected economic returns twice as high.
The project aims to reduce travel time by approximately 80 minutes for light vehicles and 112 minutes for trucks between Marrakech and the southeast regions. It serves as a structural alternative to National Road RN9 and addresses the recurring winter closures and safety concerns at Tizi N’Tichka pass.
Facing continued failures of national consulting firms, the ministry is now considering proposals from specialized international companies. “We are examining these proposals,” Baraka indicated, though he emphasized that no timeline can be established until prerequisite geological studies are completed.
“One thing is certain: the tunnel will be built, in accordance with royal directives. It is an essential structure for the region,” the minister affirmed, describing the project as among national priorities for regional development and connectivity.
Source: Morocco word news
