The bustling rue des Caraïbes in Port-Bouët, southern Abidjan, has been closed to traffic since 15 July for a period of three months. This temporary halt aims to facilitate critical construction work on a railway bridge as part of the Line 1 metro project. Traffic is scheduled to resume on 30 September.
Motorists are urged to adhere to the revised circulation plan and observe all safety measures around the site. The closure marks a pivotal phase in the tight schedule for Côte d’Ivoire’s first elevated metro line.
a 37.4-kilometre route linking seven districts
The Line 1 metro will connect Anyama, north of the economic capital, to Felix Houphouët-Boigny International Airport in Port-Bouët, south of the city. The 37.4-kilometre route cuts through seven districts, promising to carry over 500,000 daily passengers in just 50 minutes—roughly eight times faster than the current commute during peak hours.
The infrastructure includes 18 stations, 24 bridges, a lagoon-spanning viaduct, and 34 pedestrian walkways. Recent progress shows the civil engineering phase of the lagoon viaduct nearing completion, with 12 of the 24 bridge decks already installed. The full line is slated for launch by the end of 2028.
french-led construction consortium
Development of the Abidjan metro is being led 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 investment, estimated at €1.36 billion, is largely financed by France through the French Development Agency and sovereign loans. This positions the Abidjan metro as one of France’s most significant transport infrastructure investments in West Africa.
addressing Abidjan’s chronic congestion
With Abidjan’s metropolitan area home to about 5.5 million people, the city’s coastal district, Port-Bouët—hosting the international airport and several industrial zones—faces persistent gridlock. Daily traffic jams cripple major thoroughfares due to the lack of high-capacity public transit.
The new metro system is designed to relieve road congestion and provide a fast, reliable alternative to buses and shared taxis. Project leaders anticipate generating thousands of local jobs during both construction and operation phases.