Skip to main content

North African roads

Morocco has a rapidly expanding road network, which is benefiting from expertise offered by French contractor Colas. The quality of Morocco's roads is higher than in many other African countries, with much of this due to the use of the latest road construction technology by Colas. It previously took almost two days to go from Casablanca to Tan Tan in the south and this journey now takes less than eight hours. Colas has some 800 machines and vehicles in Morocco, with 70 graders, 70 wheeled loaders, 50 excava
February 8, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
Morocco has a rapidly expanding road network, which is benefiting from expertise offered by French contractor 184 Colas. The quality of Morocco's roads is higher than in many other African countries, with much of this due to the use of the latest road construction technology by Colas.

It previously took almost two days to go from Casablanca to Tan Tan in the south and this journey now takes less than eight hours. Colas has some 800 machines and vehicles in Morocco, with 70 graders, 70 wheeled loaders, 50 excavators, 50 compactors, 30 bulldozers, six articulated haulers and a lot of smaller vehicles. 2394 Volvo supplies 30 of these larger machines, including G900 graders, L120F wheel loaders, excavators of 22-45tonnes and a dozen asphalt pavers including Volvo's latest ABG7820 paver. Colas has doubled its business in Morocco over the last five years, benefiting from increased government spending on its road network.

However, harsh conditions make building roads in desert conditions difficult. The heat affects the wearing course, but this can be solved using admixtures to the asphalt, however the occasional rainstorm breaks up the structure and can be heavy and destructive. Meanwhile traffic volumes have grown significantly and the country has had to develop its network significantly. With contracts to build 150km of highway near Morocco's border with Mauritania, a 40km road through the mountains near Casablanca and a host of other projects, Colas hopes to win more business in the future.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • ADT market developments
    May 25, 2016
    The market for ADTs has developed considerably in the last 20 years while the number of manufacturers active in this segment has also grown Volvo CE was a pioneer of the ADT; the first firm to mass manufacture an articulating, tipper truck with all-wheel-drive in the 1960s, although it is not correct to say that the firm actually invented the ADT as some may claim. Performance has increased considerably in the ADT sector in recent years, with many trucks now featuring low maintenance, oil-immersed d
  • Nepal plans road infrastructure expansion
    March 12, 2014
    Major road expansion is planned for Nepal, but will face huge challenges due to the country’s geography - Mike Woof reports, with local information from World Highways' Nepal correspondent, Ram Krishna Wagle The tiny, landlocked nation of Nepal lies sandwiched between two of the world’s largest countries, China and India and maintains good relations with both. Politically Nepal has strong links with China, while culturally its ties are close with India and these relationships work both ways. Despite bein
  • Podium finish for Indonesia’s new racetrack paver
    November 23, 2021
    The first machines to complete a circuit of Indonesia’s new Mandalika International motorsport track were a series of Bomag pavers and rollers. They can claim a best-in-class finish when it comes to creating the ultimate surface for a competitive racing track.
  • Hillhead promises industry showcase
    June 12, 2012
    Hillhead 2012, the three-day biennial flagship event for the quarrying, recycling and heavy construction industries, is set to be a sell-out. Guy Woodford looks at what a number of major companies will be exhibiting during the show being held next month at Buxton Quarry in Derbyshire With 400 exhibitors already confirmed Hillhead 2012, taking place 19-21 June, is set to draw bumper crowds and provide crucial new business opportunities for companies involved in quarrying, recycling and heavy construction. Ca