The Spanish Society for Studies of Fixed Communications across the Strait of Gibraltar (SECEGSA) has reached a crucial milestone in the ambitious project to connect Spain and Morocco via an underwater tunnel. The organization is preparing to launch a seismotectonic research campaign, marking a significant advance in the preliminary studies of this megaproject.
A call for tenders worth 487,872 euros will soon be launched by SECEGSA for the acquisition or rental of four ocean bottom seismometers (OBS). These devices, developed by the Geophysics Section of the Spanish Royal Army Observatory (ROA), will be used in the Capitan de Navío Manuel Catalán Morollón campaign. This step demonstrates the importance given to the safety and technical feasibility of the project.
The proposed tunnel, the result of a collaboration between SECEGSA and its Moroccan counterpart, SNED, would extend over 42 kilometers. It would connect Punta Paloma, near Tarifa in Spain, to Malabata, located near Tangier in Morocco. The project involves the construction of two single-track tunnels of 7.9 meters in diameter, completed by a service gallery of 6 meters in diameter. Cross passages every 340 meters would ensure the connection between these different structures.
The scale of the project is reflected in its estimated cost of 6 billion euros, according to the American magazine Newsweek. This considerable investment is justified by the expected benefits: the tunnel should facilitate the annual transit of 12.8 million passengers and 13 million tons of goods between the two sides of the strait.
Beyond its impact on trade between Spain and Morocco, this project has an intercontinental dimension. It represents a physical link between Europe and Africa, opening new perspectives for commercial and cultural exchanges between the two continents.
The construction of this colossal infrastructure requires extensive studies and careful planning. The upcoming seismotectonic research campaign will play a key role in the assessment of geological risks and the final design of the tunnel. It illustrates the commitment of stakeholders to ensure the viability and safety of this major project.
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