The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has approved a loan of €769.78m to Côte d'Ivoire with an objective to improve urban transport in the city of Abidjan.

The loan will be used towards improving the living conditions of the people living in Abidjan through the development and rehabilitation of road infrastructures.

Most of the intersections in the region are severely congested and the road conditions are leading to road accidents, as well as slowing down the economic activity not only in the city of Abidjan but also in the West African sub-region.

The amount will be used for multiple projects, which includes development of 87.9km of fast urban roads, a 1,400m bridge, six interchanges, the rehabilitation of traffic lights at 89 intersections, and strengthening of existing capacity for traffic control and road safety.

African Development Bank Transport and ICT department director Amadou Oumarou said: "The project will be implemented from March 2017 to December 2021 and will improve traffic flow, reduce road accidents, strengthen urban management, improve air quality, increase household revenues, recycle waste, reduce greenhouse gases and improve the quality of life of the people."

"Abidjan is the economic hub of Côte d'Ivoire, it is a port city with an estimated population of 4.71 million."

Abidjan is the economic hub of Côte d'Ivoire, it is a port city with an estimated population of 4.71 million, which is projected to reach 8.5 million by 2030.

The city is the main supplier of products and services that make Côte d'Ivoire the third largest exporting country in Africa, after Egypt and South Africa.

At the request of the Government, the AfDB also brought together many partners to complete the financing of the HKB Bridge and thus contributed to a significant resolution of the problems of transport and urban planning in the city of Abidjan.

Image: African Development Bank to support improvement of urban transport in the city of Abidjan. Photo: courtesy of  African Development Bank Group.