Traffic on the provincial road connecting Targuist to Chakrane in Al Hoceima province was restored on Tuesday, following dedicated efforts by intervention teams from the Provincial Directorate of Equipment, Transport, and Logistics. These teams were actively engaged in snow-clearing operations on this crucial route. In a statement to the Moroccan Press Agency (MAP), Youssef Eshaimi, the Provincial Director of Equipment, Transport, and Logistics in Al Hoceima, highlighted that the directorate's teams, in collaboration with local authorities, worked diligently to clear snow from provincial road nº 5204, which links Targuist to Chakrane via the commune of Bni Ammart. He confirmed that the road was reopened on Tuesday morning, significantly easing the movement of citizens and goods. The ground teams, composed of engineers, technicians, and workers, acted swiftly and effectively to complete the mission as soon as possible. Eshaimi noted that the provincial directorate, equipped with approximately 16 pieces of equipment, including six snow removal machines, deployed various machines and materials such as trucks, graders, and snow removal machines to tackle the challenge. Additionally, the teams spread salt on national road nº 2, connecting Chefchaouen to Al Hoceima via Bab Berred. Eshaimi emphasized that this operation is crucial during the winter months to prevent ice formation. The deployment of trucks equipped with spreading devices allows for proactive and regular interventions, ensuring the effectiveness of operations. The provincial director noted that Al Hoceima's mountainous terrain, known for its heavy snowfall lasting several months, affects hundreds of kilometers of national, regional, and provincial roads. These conditions sometimes lead to disruptions or traffic cuts on roads such as national road nº 2, national road nº 8 between Targuist and Taounate, regional road nº 509 linking Issaguen to Lakhlafa, and provincial roads nº 5204 and nº 4115 from Moulay Ahmed Cherif to El Jebha. In preparation for the winter season, the provincial Equipment Directorate has implemented several proactive measures. These include activating an on-call service, mobilizing necessary human and logistical resources, strategically positioning machines near roads most exposed to snowfall, and enhancing coordination between provincial and local authorities, the Royal Gendarmerie, and neighboring provincial directorates.
