Abidjan metro project: rue des Caraïbes closed for major rail bridge construction

Port-Bouët’s bustling rue des Caraïbes, a key artery in the southern district of Abidjan, has been completely shut to vehicular traffic since July 15. This closure, lasting two and a half months, is part of critical preparatory work for the railway bridge that will support Line 1 of the Abidjan metro system. Normal traffic flow is expected to resume by September 30.

Local motorists have been directed to follow the specially designed alternative route map provided by authorities, while strict safety protocols are being enforced around the construction zone. This temporary disruption is a calculated step within the high-stakes timeline for completing Côte d’Ivoire’s first elevated metro line.

Connecting seven districts across 37.4 kilometers

The metro Line 1 project will link Anyama, north of Abidjan’s business heart, to Port-Bouët’s Félix Houphouët-Boigny International Airport in the south. The 37.4-kilometer route cuts through seven administrative districts, promising a transformative shift in urban mobility. Once operational, the automated metro is projected to ferry over 500,000 daily passengers between the two endpoints in just 50 minutes—nearly eight times faster than current peak-hour car journeys.

The infrastructure includes 18 strategically placed stations, 24 bridges, a sweeping lagoon-spanning viaduct, and 34 pedestrian footbridges. Recent site updates confirm that civil engineering work on the lagoon viaduct is nearly complete, with 12 of the 24 planned bridge decks already installed. Officials have set a firm target for service launch by the end of 2028.

Built by leading French construction firms

This landmark project is being executed by a French-led consortium comprising Bouygues Travaux Publics, Alstom, Colas Rail, and Keolis. Under the agreement, Bouygues oversees civil engineering and rolling stock procurement, while Keolis will manage the line’s operations for 15 years post-completion.

The total investment clocks in at approximately €1.36 billion, largely financed through French development aid and concessional loans from the French Treasury. This financial structure positions the Abidjan metro as one of the largest French transport infrastructure investments in West Africa.

Why this metro matters for Abidjan’s future

With a metropolitan population exceeding 5.5 million, Abidjan faces persistent gridlock that drains productivity and quality of life. Port-Bouët, a coastal district in the south, hosts the international airport and key industrial zones—but suffers from chronic congestion due to the absence of high-capacity public transit. The new metro is designed to relieve this pressure by offering a fast, dependable alternative to buses and informal taxis.

Beyond easing traffic, the project is expected to generate thousands of local jobs during both construction and operation phases, giving a much-needed boost to the regional economy.

Strategic significance for France

From a geopolitical standpoint, the Abidjan metro serves as a tangible expression of France’s economic and diplomatic leverage across francophone Africa. It demonstrates Paris’s commitment to financing foundational infrastructure in former colonies, reinforcing the influence of French firms—particularly in the face of growing competition from Chinese and Turkish contractors.

The successful delivery of Line 1 could set a compelling precedent for future French-backed projects across the region, with Senegal and Guinea already identified as potential beneficiaries. Construction crews are maintaining an aggressive pace, and the closure of rue des Caraïbes marks one of the final critical milestones before track laying and the rollout of Alstom’s trains along the full route.