Morocco-based transport company Casa Transports expects total investments in Casablanca’s urban transport plan to be about $5.9bn.

The urban plan includes the construction of four tramway lines, a rapid bus line and a highway, says a source involved in the project.

Casa Transports is currently involved in the enabling works of line 1 of the tramway project in Casablanca, Morocco’s largest city. This involves reorganising the underground networks of power and water cables, diverting other traffic routes and constructing the foundations of the tramway platforms.

The company expects the second stage of infrastructure works to begin towards the end of the third quarter quarter 2010.

Construction work on the first line of the tram is valued at $841m and will comprise 49 stations on a 30-km line crossing the city from east to west.

French engineering firm Alstom won a contract earlier this month to deliver 74 trams to Casa Transports for the tramway. The deal also includes maintenance of the trams for 15 years.

Systra is the project manager for the tramway.The French rail group is partnered by its subsidiary Systra Morocco and the local CID Engineering & Development Consultants (MEED 8:6:09).

The entire tram network will eventually have four lines covering a total distance of 76km.

Casa Transports plans to open the tram in 12 December 2012.