Under the first design phase, K&A is reviewing existing studies previously undertaken by a consortium led by Italy's Spia. The second phase calls for the completion of basic design studies and is expected to take six-seven months, with the third phase, involving detailed designs, set to take 12-13 months.

Construction tenders are expected to be launched in mid-2007 following the completion of the design programme by K&A.

The Fes-Taza-Oujda project will extend the existing Rabat-Meknes-Fes road to form a major new east-west link, which in turn will be part of the planned Maghreb highway between the Mauritanian capital Nouakchott and Tobruk in Libya.

ADM plans to spend almost MD 21,000 million ($2,275 million) up to 2010 on the completion or construction of 888 kilometres of roads, increasing the national network to 1,417 kilometres, excluding motorways (MEED 5:8:05).