Skip to main content

Work to restart on major Algeria link projects

Algeria is planning to restart construction of the final section of the country’s East- West Highway project as well as a tunnel at Djebel El Ouahch. Some 84km of the East-West highway located in Algeria’s El Tarf region remains to be built following the withdrawal of a Japanese-led consortium from the project. The project to build the 1.9km twin tube tunnel at Djebel El Ouahch and close to Constantine faced major geological challenges.
September 8, 2016 Read time: 2 mins

Algeria is planning to restart construction of the final section of the country’s East- West Highway project as well as a tunnel at Djebel El Ouahch. Some 84km of the East-West highway located in Algeria’s El Tarf region remains to be built following the withdrawal of a Japanese-led consortium from the project. The project to build the 1.9km twin tube tunnel at Djebel El Ouahch and close to Constantine faced major geological challenges. A stretch of one of the tunnels collapsed during construction and a temporary bypass had to be built. Following a dispute between the Japanese consortium and the Algerian Government, work on the project halted. However construction of this final stretch of the East-West highway now looks set to recommence. The highway is of enormous strategic benefit to Algeria as it runs some 1,219km across the country and connects its borders with neighbouring Morocco and Tunisia.

Related Content

  • Transforming Algeria's road network
    April 4, 2012
    Highway construction work is transforming Algeria, providing the country with a new network of highway quality road connections. Several sections of the new trans-Algerian highway are already complete and carrying traffic, such as the stretch near the town of Setif. When complete the highway will run 1,200km across the north of the country from the border with Morocco in the west to the Tunisian border, passing through 24 provinces. This makes it the biggest highway project ever undertaken in Africa, as wel
  • A new highway in Algeria will provide an economic boost to the country and its North African neighbours
    February 27, 2012
    The highway is being built by Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, known as the Maghreb region (in Arabic: the West), as well as in Libya. Construction of the longest section, the one running through Algeria and extending over 1,200km, began in March 2007 and is scheduled due for completion shortly.
  • Algeria’s major highway close to completion
    October 4, 2017
    Work on Algeria’s East-West highway is drawing to its final conclusion, after several years of activity. The final stretch will connect Algeria with Tunisia and construction of this section is due to restart before the end of 2017. When the tender process is announced, the projected cost of the work will also be released. The Algerian Government is keen for work on this last stretch of the highway to be complete by the end of 2018.
  • Tunisia is benefiting from key highway expansion
    November 28, 2012
    Work is underway in Tunisia on the westbound Highway from capital Tunis towards the Algerian border. This 60km link will run from the town of Oued Zarga to Boussalem and the work is being carried out by Italian contractor Todini and local company Soroubat. The bidding process for the 100km highway from Gabes to Medenine is now being opened, while bidding for the 92km road from Medenine to the Libyan border outpost of Ras Jedir opened in October 2012. Bids for the construction of the 61km of peripheral roads