Rédaction Africa Links 24 with L’Opinion
Published on 2024-04-18 16:52:00
Spanish media are beginning to unveil the details of the Gibraltar Tunnel project, envisioned as one of the greatest civil engineering achievements in history. This underwater connection between Morocco and Spain will be strictly for railways, marking a major advancement in terms of logistical connectivity and optimization of transportation infrastructure.
The 40-kilometer long tunnel will not allow the circulation of vehicles, according to information from the media outlet “La Razón”. It will be specifically designed for the transportation of passengers and goods, with dedicated shuttle trains for vehicles and trucks, as well as conventional trains for passengers and goods. The distance between the terminal stations will be 42 kilometers, with an underwater section of 38.7 kilometers, including 27.8 kilometers under water.
The absence of car traffic in the tunnel is explained by the need to avoid congestion in this strategic area of the Strait of Gibraltar, referred to as a “bottleneck” by the Spanish newspaper “AS”. Although the project is still in the study phase, the Spanish company Secegsa, in charge of the project, envisions a completion timeframe between 2030 and 2040.
The tunnel route is undergoing detailed feasibility studies. The goal is to connect the two countries and continents through the closest points to the coasts, from the town of Punta de Oliveros to Tarifa on the Spanish side to Punta Cires on the Moroccan side. However, due to the depth of the sea in this area, this option seems unfeasible. Experts are therefore considering extending the tunnel between the shores of Punta Paloma and Cap Malabata on the Moroccan side, offering a promising alternative for this large-scale project.
Read the original article(French) on L’Opinion
