I can't give you any current information about the road border crossings between Tunisia and Algeria, but I can give you some historical background that might help you judge how to proceed.

Tourism has never been a priority in Algeria, nor has it ever been a significant source of income in Algeria. Algeria makes its money from oil and gas, and the government's highest priority is to protect the oil and gas industry from disruption. I was based in Algeria about 20 years ago, as an aircraft pilot flying in support of oil and gas operations, and security was very tight - I never once saw a tourist during the year I was in the country, and road travel between regions of the country was severely restricted.

Tourism is (was?) a big part of Tunisia's economy, but all the tourist income is generated in the east coast regions of the country, from Tunis down to Djerba. There was a little bit of tourist activity - mostly 'explorers' - along the north coast towards Algeria, but not much. No tourists of any kind entered Tunisia overland from Algeria - Algerians could not afford to vacation in Tunisia, and the very few that could afford international travel would fly, not travel by road.

Tunisia has significant concerns about anti-government activity along their western border with Algeria - see the map at the UK Foreign Office Travel Advisory for Tunisia. This is a long-standing concern that has been around for decades. Hence the Tunisian government is not really interested in having an open border with Algeria - they see no benefit arising from an open border, but they do see lots of potential problems with an open border.

The Algerians have no interest of any kind in having an open border with Tunisia - although it probably would not present a security concern to them, it doesn't offer them any benefits either. Algeria's border with Morocco on the other side (Western side) of Algeria is totally closed, and keeping their eastern border with Tunisia closed gives Algeria very tight control over who enters their country... the only ways in are by air or by sea. Their southern border is effectively closed off by the desert.

What all that boils down to is that neither Tunisia or Algeria see any benefit to their countries associated with free travel across their borders. The only folks who are interested in crossing between the two countries are either "bad guys" or the occasional particularly intrepid tourist, such as you or I.

I hope this helps you better understand the issues affecting this border crossing.

Michael