One African country will invest £1billion in an unprecedented overhaul of its road networks ahead of 2030. The huge undertaking will involve building two new motorways and upgrading connections to main cities as they prepare for a significant influx of tourists.

The Moroccan government hopes to ease congestion between Rabat and Casablanca, ultimately enhancing connectivity within the Casablanca region, which is home to the Hassan II Stadium. Otherwise known as the Grand Stade de Casablanca, the 115,000-capacity stadium will become the largest in the world set to host the 2030 Fifa World Cup - the driving force behind the major upgrades. 

The North African country will co-host the tournament in 2030 alongside Spain and Portugal and is expected to host matches in six cities during the World Cup, including Rabat, Tangier, Marrakech, Agadir, Fez, and Casablanca.

Its existing road network isn't expected to be able to withstand the huge influx of visitors, and the Moroccan government and its highways authority, the Société Nationale des Autoroutes du Maroc (ADM), agreed to begin the project in 2025.

With final completion expected by 2032, the country will build a Rabat-Casablanca Continental motorway, a Tit Mellil-Berrechid motorway and upgrade connections to the cities of Ain Harrouda and Sidi Maarouf.

A budget of MAD1.2bn (£96.5million) has been established to compensate affected landowners for the Rabat-Casablanca stretch. 

The proposed 37-mile highway will connect the Rabat bypass at the Ain Atiq junction to the Casablanca bypass at Tit Mellil, and has a forecast budget of MAD6.5bn (£523million).

ADM plans to minimise the burden on the state budget by mobilising an additional MAD16bn (£1.3billion) through a “responsible and innovative approach”.

The memorandum was approved by governmental bodies including the Ministries of Economy and Finance, Equipment and Water, and the National Agency for Strategic Management of State Holdings.

The Hassan II Stadium was designed by Populous and Oualalou + Choi. It is currently under construction and scheduled for completion in 2028.