Abidjan metro project: Caraïbes street closure disrupts traffic for two months

A critical phase of Abidjan’s first metro line is underway as the Caraïbes street in Port-Bouët, a southern district of the city, has been closed to vehicular traffic since July 15. The closure, which will last two and a half months, is essential for constructing a railway bridge deck as part of the Line 1 metro project. Traffic is expected to resume on September 30.

The closure aligns with the tight construction schedule for Côte d’Ivoire’s first elevated metro line. Authorities have urged drivers to follow the designated traffic plan and adhere to safety protocols around the worksite. The project is being closely monitored to ensure timely progress.

Connecting seven districts over 37.4 kilometers

The Line 1 metro, spanning 37.4 kilometers, will link Anyama in the north to the Félix Houphouët-Boigny International Airport in Port-Bouët, passing through seven districts. The fully automated system is designed to transport over 500,000 passengers daily, reducing travel time to just 50 minutes—roughly eight times faster than current peak-hour road travel.

The project includes 18 stations, 24 bridges, a lagoon-crossing viaduct over the Ébrié Lagoon, and 34 pedestrian footbridges. As of June, civil engineering work on the viaduct was nearly complete, with 12 of the 24 planned bridge decks already installed. The metro is slated for launch by the end of 2028.

A French-led infrastructure initiative

The metro is being built by a French consortium comprising Bouygues Travaux Publics, Alstom, Colas Rail, and Keolis. Bouygues oversees civil engineering and rolling stock supply, while Keolis will operate the line for 15 years post-completion.

The total project cost is estimated at €1.36 billion, with financing primarily provided by France through the French Development Agency and loans from the French Treasury. This makes it one of France’s largest transport infrastructure investments in West Africa.

Addressing Abidjan’s congestion crisis

Abidjan’s metropolitan area is home to 5.5 million people, with Port-Bouët serving as a key industrial and transport hub hosting the international airport. Chronic traffic congestion plagues the city, as limited high-capacity public transport options force reliance on buses and shared taxis.

The new metro aims to alleviate road congestion by offering a fast, reliable alternative. During both construction and operation, the project is expected to generate thousands of local jobs, boosting economic activity in the region.

France’s strategic investment in francophone Africa

For France, the Abidjan metro represents more than an infrastructure project—it’s a tool for economic and diplomatic influence in francophone Africa. The initiative underscores France’s strategy of funding critical infrastructure in its former territories, where French firms maintain a competitive edge over rivals from China and Turkey.

The project also reflects ongoing debates in France about development aid and the return on concessional loans. A successful launch in Côte d’Ivoire could pave the way for similar French-backed metro projects in countries like Senegal and Guinea.

The closure of Caraïbes Street marks one of the final critical phases before track laying and the installation of Alstom trainsets across the entire route. Work is progressing at a steady pace to meet the 2028 deadline.