Inaugurated by His Majesty King Mohammed VI in May 2011, the Hassan II bridge helped decongest the traffic between Rabat and Salé, while protecting the historic sites and populations of the old medina from atmospheric and noise pollution.
With a length of 1.2 km, the Hassan II bridge consists of five structures :
• A nautical base bridge
• Rabat hollow abutment
• The Hassan II bridge
• The tramway access ramp – Salé side
• Sale viaduct
The primary objective of these infrastructures is a better circulate on foot, by car, by tram, between Rabat and Salé, thanks to the 2 walkways, the tramway platform , tracks for motorcycles and 3-way traffic in each direction. Top 13 meters, it also facilitates access of boats and allows the navigability of the Bouregreg River to the limits of ONCF bridge upstream.
The bridge is composed of three independent juxtaposed aprons to provide the lights between vaults that vary according to the movements of the sun. By its north-south orientation, the bridge houses the path of the sun to transform its structure into a sensor lights and shadows, while avoiding the black depth in its large deck.
To the west, the spectacle of the medina and Oudayas is offered to pedestrians, walkers, thanks to a large balcony walkway over the river and the spectacle of the built horizon. The first bridge, which also hosts the tram can thus easily find a geometric autonomy to the ground on the banks of Salé and Rabat. The other two decks are reserved for motor vehicles lined the sidewalk to the east.
Designed by the architectural firm and Marc Mimram engineering, Hassan II bridge is distinguished by its architecture and urban integration, as well as the a highly technical, which controls the operation of its construction. Its realization has used advanced technology, innovative which make it the first work of art with a high performance concrete in a light shade in Morocco enrolling in sustainability.
The construction site of the Hassan II bridge will assemble throughout its realization, an effective amounting to 500 workers on average and over 800 in peak periods including boiseurs, masons, steel fixers, welders, crane operators, the machine operators, electricians, plumbers, mechanics, carpenters, concrete with power plant operators, controllers.
Expertise and sharing between different trades of different nationalities punctuated the life of this project that has, thanks to a fruitful and positive collaboration, guided to a real transfer of skills.
Work had started in December 2007, for a total investment of 1.2 billion Dirhams HT.