Over 40 years after the idea was first proposed, plans to build a tunnel linking Spain and Morocco are being revived. The tunnel would provide a more sustainable travel option between the two countries, with a new train service connecting Madrid and Casablanca. Currently, flights between the two cities take an hour and a half, while driving takes nine hours with a ferry ride in between. The tunnel would be 27.6km in length and is estimated to cost billions of euros to construct.
Surveys are currently underway by Morocco’s National Company for the Studies of the Strait of Gibraltar and Spain’s Spanish Society for Fixed Communication across the Strait of Gibraltar to assess the viability of the project in the 2020s. The tunnel project, known as the ‘Fixed Link’, has seen recent support from Spanish government officials, with discussions to move the project forward. The positive relations between Spain and Morocco are seen as a driving force to promote the development of better infrastructure and transport links between the two countries.
Spanish Foreign Minister Oscar Puente visited Morocco to advance the tunnel project, stating that a meeting would be scheduled soon to finalize plans for the transport link. Previous discussions about the tunnel project date back to 1979, highlighting the long history of the idea. Spanish officials have allocated funds to further study the tunnel’s route and feasibility, with the completion of the project estimated to take up to five years.
The proposed tunnel would run from Punta Paloma in Tarifa to Punta Malabata in the Bay of Tangiers, with a maximum depth of 300 metres and a maximum gradient of three percent. The tunnel project is seen as a strategic initiative for both Spain and Morocco, as well as Europe and Africa, with the goal of enhancing connectivity between the continents. The potential completion of the tunnel by 2030 aligns with the plans for the FIFA World Cup to be jointly hosted by Morocco, Spain, and Portugal.
The tunnel between Spain and Morocco aims to provide a quicker and more efficient travel option for individuals moving between the two countries. With a train service connecting Madrid and Casablanca, the journey is estimated to take five and a half hours, significantly cutting down on travel time compared to existing options. The tunnel project represents a significant infrastructure development that could strengthen ties between Europe and Africa while promoting sustainable travel options for the future.
