Berrechid–Beni Mellal expressway

A4
Route information
Length	173 km (107 mi)
Existed	2014–present
Major junctions
West end	Berrechid
East end	Beni Mellal
Location
Country	Morocco
Highway system
Transport in Morocco

The Berrechid–Beni Mellal expressway (A4) was inaugurated in 2015. It runs mainly parallel with the existing Route Nationale 12.

History

Start of building

On 12 April 2010 King Mohammed VI of Morocco formally started the building-activities for this 173 km (107 mi) long toll-road. Between this date and the opening in 2015, some 35 billion cubic meters (1,200×10^⁹ cu ft) of soil/ground were moved.

Financing

The total building costs are budgeted on 6.050 million Dirham and these investments are made via: FADES: The Arab Fund for Social and Economical Development,
the European Investment Bank and the government of China. This investment will be retrieved via the income from the toll-road, the exploration of the rest- and service stations. Three service-stops will be built lying max. 52 km (32 mi). apart from each other. The five parts were meant to be built at the same time so that the whole road can be opened for traffic in 2013. However, due to expropriation issues, Khouribga - Beni Mellal section opened in 2014 and the inauguration of Berrechid - Khouribga section was postponed to 2015.

This investment is part of the main-project plan 2008–2015 between the ADM and the government of Morocco. This masterplan was signed on 8 July 2008 during a formal meeting which was attended by King Mohammed VI of Morocco.

Construction

The first section between Berrechid and Ben Ahmed (38.6 kilometers (24.0 mi)) was built by China International Water & Electric Corporation (CWE). The second section, between Ben Ahmed and Khouribga (38.5 kilometers (23.9 mi)), and the third section between Khouribga and Oued Zem (33 kilometers (21 mi)), were built by four local Moroccan contractors: Sintram, LRN, Seprob and the SNCE. The fourth one between Oued Zem and Kasba Tadla (40 kilometers (25 mi)) was built by a Moroccan contractor, Houar. The fifth and last one, between Kasba Tadla and Beni Mellal ( 22 kilometers (14 mi)) was by another Chinese contractor, Covec.

Purpose

This expressway aims to support the development of Béni Mellal-Khénifra region and to reduce road traffic on the National road 11. This expressway links Beni Mellal, capital of Béni Mellal-Khénifra region, to Casablanca, the economic capital and the largest city in Morocco, serving the province of Khouribga, an area of great industrial potential thanks to large phosphate reserves. The Béni Mellal-Khénifra region's agricultural and tourism sectors are also expected to benefit from this expressway.

With traffic estimated at 3,700 vehicles per day (2018), the expressway serves the cities of Ben Ahmed, Khouribga, Oued Zem, Bejaad and Kasba Tadla. It includes 7 junction and 3 bridges across the Oum Errabiaa, Oued Derna and Oued Oum Errabia Bouqroum rivers as well as 28 underground and aerial passages.

Route

The total length of the new expressway from Berrechid to Beni Mellal is 174 km (108 mi).

Exit	Kilometer	Direction	Route
Junction between A3, A4 and Tit Mellil-Berrechid expressway	km 0	Berrechid Marrakech Agadir	A3
		Airport Mohammed V Casablanca
		Tit Mellil-Berrechid expressway under construction
	16 kilometers (9.9 mi)	Service area Ben Ahmed
	38 kilometers (24 mi)	Ben Ahmed El Gara El Borouj	N23
	72 kilometers (45 mi)	Service area Khouribga
	77 kilometers (48 mi)	Khouribga	R403
	107 kilometers (66 mi)	Oued Zem Rommani per N25	N25
	117 kilometers (73 mi)	Oued Zem per N12 Bejaad per N12	N12
	119 kilometers (74 mi)	Service area Oued Zem
	135 kilometers (84 mi)	Bejaad Fkih Ben Saleh per R310	R310
	152 kilometers (94 mi)	Kasba Tadla Khénifra	R308
Toll	173 kilometers (107 mi)	Beni Mellal toll station
Junction between A4 and N8 End of expressway	174 kilometers (108 mi)	Béni Mellal	N8

Ben Ahmed exit on the A4