The Bouaké-Kanawolo freeway construction project: Bouaké-Kobo section, in the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, is in line with Côte d’Ivoire’s National Development Plan 2021-2025 and is anchored in Strategic Axis No. 4 of this plan: Development of infrastructures harmoniously distributed over the national territory and preservation of the environment.
In line with the Sectoral Transport Policy, which aims to modernize, strengthen and maintain road infrastructures, this project is a major economic lever that will facilitate economic exchanges by opening up the various localities in its area of influence.
The project is part of the Regional Motorway Program (Programme Autoroutier Régional – PAR), which involves upgrading to motorway standard the Abidjan-Yamoussoukro-Bouaké-Kanawolo-Ferkéssedougou- La Léraba – Ouagadougou section of the Cu7a community trunk road (Abidjan – Yamoussoukro – Ferkéssedougou – La Léraba – Ouagadougou – Kantchari – Makalondi – Niamey). The Abidjan-Singrobo section (140 km) has been in service since 1982, and the government is progressively upgrading the Ivorian section of the route, known as the “Autoroute Nord”, which, due to its central position, is the “backbone” of the Côte d’Ivoire road network. The Singrobo-Yamoussoukro section (86 km), financed by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), the Saudi Fund, the OPEB Fund, the Kuwaiti Fund and the State, the Yamoussoukro-Tiébissou section (36 km), financed by the IDB and the State, and the Tiébissou-Bouaké section (96 km), financed by Eximbank of China and the State, were built and commissioned in December 2013, December 2022 and August 2023 respectively.
Construction of the Bouake-Kanawolo section of this freeway is being organized in two phases, as follows:
- The priority tranche, which is the subject of this project, concerns the first three lots, namely : a. Lot 1: Bouaké-Katiola section (28.5 km), to be financed by the IDB; b. Lot 2: Katiola-Darakokaha section (26 km), also submitted to the IDB; c. Lot 3: Darakokaha-Kobo section (15 km), submitted to BOAD.
- The second tranche, covering Lot 4, the Kobo-Kanawolo section (30.8 km), is subject to partial financing by the IDB for fiscal year 2024.
The project involves the construction of a 2×2 lane section of the Bouaké-Kobo freeway (69.5 km).
Positive aspects of the project :
- Job creation :
- 471 indirect jobs
- 350 direct permanent jobs, including 114 women and 236 young people
- 300 jobs during project implementation
- Fighting poverty :
- At least 10,492 M FCFA of indirect and induced added value generated annually.
- At least 416 M FCFA in indirect and induced tax revenues generated annually.
Implementation of the Environmental and Social Management Plan
Measures to offset negative impacts, raise awareness of road safety, combat HIV/AIDS and prevent malaria, COVID-19 and water-borne diseases will be coordinated and monitored with AGEROUTE, the Ivorian Antipollution Centre (CIAPOL) and the administrative authorities of the project’s Zone d’Intervention Directe (ZID).
The ESMP takes into account :
- Quarry rehabilitation and compensatory reforestation.
- Support for the reinforcement of gender equality and the implementation of actions to rehabilitate socio-economic infrastructures (construction of a borehole, construction and equipping of classrooms, cemetery enclosure walls, etc.).
- Security measures and awareness-raising.
- Capacity building, environmental monitoring and follow-up.
- PAR.
