Road Classification
Classification
Description
Routes Nationales (N)
Provide long distance connections between several administrative regions
and with neighboring states
Routes Régionales (R)
Provide connections between different ‘’chefs lieux de département’’ of
the same Region
Routes Départementales Provide connection between different district towns or rural communities
(D)
within the same department
Urban way (VU)
Provide connection within the urban centers
Classified tracks (P)
Connect county roads with agricultural production centers
Classification
Administering Agency
Network Length
National Roads
Ageroute
3351.6km, 59.2% paved in 2007
Regional Roads
Ageroute
1206.5 km, 12.6% paved in 2007
Departmental Roads
Ageroute
5667.4 km, 18.4 % paved in 2007
Urban ways
Ageroute
250.8 km, 5.1 % paved in 2007
classified tracks
Ageroute
4197.1 km ,1.9 % paved in 2007
Bridges
Many bridges are recorded on the roads assessed above. The security and condition (concrete
material) of these bridges are good. No further assessment on their capacity needed, as trucks of 50
metric tons and above usually pass on these bridges.
The most important bridge in term of size and efficiency is the Faidherbe Bridge.
Transport Corridors
There is one main Corridor to provide goods in Mali from Dakar Port
International Corridors Leading to the Country
Senegal doesn’t totally depend on goods coming into the country by road, as Dakar Port is the main
entry point. However there are 3 important international corridors.
All the roads to the borders are generally National road and are in good conditions and paved.
Senegal – Mali Border to Bamako
Senegal – Gambia Border to Banjul
Senegal – Guinee Border to Conakry
Senegal government is working on two other corridors ( with fundings from BID and other donors),
road refection projects. One from Kedougou-Sarraya-Kita and Tambacounda, Medina Gounass et
Guinee Bissau borders.
Main domestic road corridors
From Dakar to Kidira
General Information
Total distance
648 km
Total travel time
11 hours by car
Road classification
N1
Security
Good
Main towns/hubs
Kaolack, Tambacounda
Road functional class: Primary
Surface: Paved
Comments
N1: The road is in good state. The only quite damaged segment is between Fatik and Kaolack. But
you can avoid it by using N3 from Dakar to Thies and retake N1 in Thies to Kaolack.
Road condition: Compacted - rough (<40kph)
Passable by what traffic: dry season
Heavy trucks (15 - 23 tonnes) (6x6 or 6x 4) with trailer
Passable by what traffic: rainy season
Heavy trucks (15 - 23 tonnes) (6x6 or 6x 4) with trailer
Road damage
Damaged segment between Fatik and Kaolack. But you can avoid it by using N3 from Dakar to Thies
and retake N1 in Thies to Kaolack.
From Tambacounda to Kedougou
General Informations
Total distance
233 km
Total travel time
3h15 by car
Road classification
N7
Security
Good
Main towns/hubs
Tambacounda-Kedougou
Road functional class Primary
Surface Paved
Comments
The road segment crossing the National Parc of Niokolo Koba is damaged. It’s slow down the speed
but it is accessible to heavy traffic.
Road condition
Compacted - rough (<40kph)
Passable by what traffic: dry season
Heavy trucks (15 - 23 tonnes) (6x6 or 6x 4) without trailer
Passable by what traffic: rainy season
Heavy trucks (15 - 23 tonnes) (6x6 or 6x 4) without trailer
From Tambacounda to Ziguinchor
General Informations
Total distance
414 km
Total travel time
9h15 by car
Road classification
N6
Security
Good
Main towns/hubs
Velingara, Kolda, Ziguinchor
Road functional class Primary
Comments
From Ziguinchor to Tambacounda the road is bad. The road is very damaged. There is about 30 km of
nice road from Dabo to Sinthiand Aladji beetween Kolfa and Velingara. From Ziguichor after Tanaff
until Kolda it gets a little better.
Road condition: Compacted - rough (<40kph)
Passable by what traffic: dry season
Heavy trucks (15 - 23 tonnes) (6x6 or 6x 4) without trailer
Passable by what traffic: rainy season
Light trucks (8 - 12 tonnes) (6x6) without trailer, Light trucks (3 - 8 tonnes) (4x4), Tractors (< 40
tonnes), Light vehicles passengers, Light vehicles pick-up
From Dakar to Ziguinchor
General Information
Total distance
433 km axe N1 and N4
Total travel time
10h
Road classification
N1 and N4
Security
good by that road, security problem by N5 itinerary
Main towns/hubs
Kaolack-Farafenni-Bounkilling-Bignona
Road functional class Primary
There are 3 different routes to go from Dakar to Ziguinchor by road.
1- N1 and N4 Kaolack-Farafenni-Bounkilling-Bignona-Ziguinchor: May be the shortest way but it
depends of the ferry to cross Gambian River. You never know how long you will wait until being able
to cross the river. The traffic over the river is usually worse South bound, i.e. towards
Ziguinchor. But in both directions delays has to be expected.
2- N1 and N5 Kaolack-Banjul-Bignona-Ziguinchor: Security problem on N5 because of active rebels
groups, restricted to UN staff.
3- N1 and N6 Tambacounda to Ziguinchor: Longer way but no security problem and no ferry to
cross.
Surface Paved
Comments
N1 is bad from Fatik to Kaolack
N4 is in good state
N5 is good state but has security issues
N6 is bad
Road condition Compacted - rough (<40kph)
Comments
The Ferry in Gambian River at Farafenni
The ferries have a very low capacity; you can wait for 2 to 20 hours if one of the ferries broke or if
they have any kind of technical problems. A lot of congestion and corruption problem with the
Gambian police. For the truck drivers it is a lot more time to wait, it can go until 20 days to be able to
cross.There is also a security issue, if it is planned to cross the river, the crossing should be done
outside of the vehicle and safety equipment such as life jackets should be worn.
Passable by what traffic: dry season
Heavy trucks (15 - 23 tonnes) (6x6 or 6x 4) without trailer
Passable by what traffic: rainy season
Heavy trucks (15 - 23 tonnes) (6x6 or 6x 4) without trailer
From Dakar to Bakel
General Information
Total distance
410 km
Total travel time
11h30 by car
Road classification
N2
Security
Good
Main towns/hubs
St-Louis-Richard Toll-Ndioum-Orossogui-Bakel
Road functional class Primary
Surface: Paved
Comments
N2 road is very good until Richard Toll,. There is a project with the MCA (Millennium Challenge
Account) to repair the road until Ndioum around 119km. After Ndioum the road is a bit damaged.
Note that the climate is extremely warm in that zone. Temperature can hit 48 degrees Celsius in
afternoon.
Road condition: Compacted - rough (<40kph)
Passable by what traffic: dry season
Heavy trucks (15 - 23 tonnes) (6x6 or 6x 4) with trailer
Passable by what traffic: rainy season
Light trucks (8 - 12 tonnes) (6x6) without trailer
From Dakar to Matam
General Information
Total distance
525
Total travel time
9h20
Road classification
N3
Security
Good
Main towns/hubs
Thies-Touba-Linguere-Matam
Road functional class Primary
Surface: Paved, Dirt or sand
Orossougui to Ranérou, (88 km) under construction by the state. It is still unpaved but practicable.
Road condition: Compacted - rough (<40kph)
Passable by what traffic: dry season
Heavy trucks (15 - 23 tonnes) (6x6 or 6x 4) with trailer
Passable by what traffic: rainy season
Heavy trucks (15 - 23 tonnes) (6x6 or 6x 4) without trailer
Bridge to get to Matam village.
It is a flooding area so the village gets isolated during rainy season. The actual bridge gets out of
service during the rainy season. Moreover the trucks can’t use the bridge it is too small, only a car
can pass. Trucks are using a path under the bridge during dry season.
There is a new bridge under construction. Financed by the BADEA (Arabic Bank for economic
development in Africa), the project is undertaken by the Chinese company Henan Chine. The bridge
should be done in May 2013.
From Dakar to Nouakchott
General Information
Total distance
547 km
Total travel time
9-11 hours by car, 2-3 days by truck
Road classification
N2
Security
Good
Main towns/hubs
Rosso
Road functional class Highway
Surface: Paved
Road condition: Compacted - rough (<40kph)
Passable by what traffic: dry season
Heavy trucks (15 - 23 tonnes) (6x6 or 6x 4) without trailer
Passable by what traffic: rainy season
Heavy trucks (15 - 23 tonnes) (6x6 or 6x 4) without trailer
Obstacles and bridges : Wet crossing
Comments
There is a BAC to cross the River in Rosso. Usually, in normal conditions, the trucks can cross during
the same day. In the worst case scenario the trucks will wait from 2 to 3 days to be able to cross the
River.