If you look on the sat images it appear there is construction underway and the piste has a lot of work going on.

It will certainly make access to Mauritania better for us without the Algerian visa/guide dramas.

I drove the piste into Smara back in 2017 after our fire incident, but it was 3am with a military escort. All I remember was washboard from hell back then

I hear Morocco emptied the PFZ, by bombing moving vehicles. Almost everybody left, according to Sahrawi people in Mauritania.

I recall one or two Dakar Rallies crossed this way on the 00s, so it’s always been possible.
And the road from Smara to the border appears on my own M4 WS map.
Distance wise between Mk and RM, it’s hard to see any benefit over the current Atlantic Highway, especially with ~400km of corrugations from Zouerate to Bir Mogrein.
But just the threat of it by Mk sure puts a spanner in Algeria’s plans.
And if it ever opens to tourists, it will be a nifty way of getting to the Adrar.

Smara to the border road set to be finished this year.

https://medias24.com/2025/02/19/de-s...eux-multiples/

Crossing without a vehicle
 

Hi everyone !

I'm not sure if it is the right place to ask, but this is the most relevant forum I've found :) I was wondering if any of you knew if it was possible to cross the border from Algeria to Mauritania without my own vehicle. I would like to travel this route by hitchhiking ! (I'm french)

I've not heard of anyone doing it but it must be possible.
All you have to do is find a trucker willing to take you, for which I would have thought payment will be involved.
What few overlanders there are won't have room.
Then you need to deal with the Police in Tindouf who like to (or must) escort foreigners to the RIM border at Hassi 75.
So it gets a bit complicated. You can't just rock up and stick your thumb out.