Traffic on rue des Caraïbes, a vital artery in Port-Bouët, southern Abidjan, has been suspended for two and a half months starting July 15. The closure, enforced by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Road Maintenance, is essential for constructing the railway deck of Ligne 1 of the Abidjan metro. Normal traffic flow is expected to resume by September 30.
Motorists are advised to adhere to the revised circulation plan and follow safety protocols around the construction zone. This temporary halt is part of the tight schedule for completing Côte d’Ivoire’s first elevated metro line.
Connecting seven districts over 37.4 kilometers
The Ligne 1 metro line will link Anyama, north of the economic capital, to Félix Houphouët-Boigny International Airport in Port-Bouët, south of Abidjan. The 37.4-kilometer route passes through seven districts, promising a daily capacity of over 500,000 passengers. The automated metro will cover the distance in just 50 minutes—roughly eight times faster than the current peak-hour drive.
The project includes 18 stations, 24 bridges, a lagoon-spanning viaduct, and 34 pedestrian walkways. As of June, civil engineering for the viaduct was nearing completion, with 12 of the 24 planned bridge decks already installed. The line is slated for launch by late 2028.
French-led consortium drives construction
The metro is being built by a French-led consortium comprising Bouygues Travaux Publics, Alstom, Colas Rail, and Keolis. Bouygues oversees civil engineering and rolling stock delivery, while Keolis will operate the line for 15 years post-completion.
The total investment nears €1.36 billion, primarily funded by France through the French Development Agency and French Treasury loans. This makes the Abidjan metro one of the largest French transport investments in West Africa.
Addressing Abidjan’s chronic congestion
Abidjan’s urban sprawl encompasses around 5.5 million residents. Port-Bouët, a coastal district in the south, hosts the international airport and key industrial zones. Persistent traffic jams plague the city due to a lack of high-capacity public transit options.
The metro aims to alleviate road congestion by providing a fast, reliable alternative to buses and shared taxis. During construction and operation, the project is expected to generate thousands of local jobs, boosting the regional economy.
Strategic implications for France
For France, the Abidjan metro represents both economic and diplomatic leverage in Francophone Africa. The project underscores Paris’s strategy of financing critical infrastructure in its former colonies, where French firms maintain a competitive edge over rivals from China and Turkey.
The metro’s success could serve as a model for future French-backed projects in the region, including potential expansions in Senegal and Guinea. With construction advancing rapidly, the closure of rue des Caraïbes marks a pivotal step before rail installation and the deployment of Alstom trainsets across the entire route.
