And 80 between Atar and Tidjikja

This is such a no-brainer and the equation looks something like this: Algeria+Mauritania = China - Morocco. Didn't China just build a whole new port on the Atlantic coast? They'll buy all the stuff DZ & Mori can dig out of the ground. And the Tlemcen mafia can sing "up your bum" to Rabat. Simples!

As for the article which mentions a crossing at "Cheggat" do they mean Chegga? Isn't that a bit off route for Oran? And actually leads nowhere useful. My friends in Mori with the green number plates say there is a military post at Chegga where they amuse themselves taking pot shots at passing traffickers.

The investment is certainly not primarily for tourism or adventurous 4x4 types. All the other anecdotal chit-chat on the ground from my recent visit is just about exporting natural resources and pushing Morocco off into the sea ;)

Indeed there is a lot of goudron between Choum and Zouerat now, and they are working on it. Lots of roads being built in Mauretania.

Going south from Atar, nice goudron all the way to Oujeft
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/rh...4=w762-h571-no

Then it gets patchy. Chinese, French and Mauretanian companies building, but at a standstill at many places. 4wd recommended to reach Tikjidja
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ga...P=w762-h571-no

And the companies are paid for construction, but noone is paid to keep the road open
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ud...U=w762-h571-no
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/tf...Y=w623-h571-no

Even trucks having tlo be dug out on the new goudron
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Be...=w1318-h568-no

Some of the bumps look innocuous but packed sand can ruin your suspension so go easy
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/0r...G=w762-h571-no

stuck - front and rear in the shit
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/X3...z=w762-h571-no

some nice stretches, with no traffic whatsoever - how is it paid for?
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/FS...q=w762-h571-no

rondpoints
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/wV...=w1318-h474-no
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ka...C=w360-h571-no

From Tikjidja going south still some 200 kms nice sandy piste, then the last 100 kms to Kiffa is new goudron.