Introduction

Overview of road traffic in the city of Abidjan,

The economic center of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire (hereinafter referred to as "Côte d'Ivoire"), is a hub of economic activities within the West African Economic and
Monetary Union (WAEMU) and is home to the port of Abidjan, which has the largest volume of cargo handling. In addition, the city is a communication node of the sub-
region with major roads, railways, ports and airports, and also serves as a starting point for international corridors to landlocked countries such as Burkina Faso and the
Republic of Mali.
Marcory occupies eighth place in the top 10 largest municipalities in Abidjan based on the figures of the last general census carried out in Côte d'Ivoire. In this district,
the largest shopping malls in the city are located (Cap Sud, Orca Deco, Prima Center, Carrefour). Marcory is also home to the Robert Champroux stadium, considered the
second major stadium in the Ivorian capital after the symbolic Felix Houphouët Boigny stadium. The population of this commune is estimated at 249,858 inhabitants
according to the last general census. The volume of traffic is increasing, causing chronic traffic congestion throughout the city. The solibra interchange plays a key role
in all (social, economic, political ...)

In view of the population growth, it is more and more difficult for the population ofcircuit from one place to another it is in this perspective the government to find it necessary
and useful that it is the municipality of Marcory which benefits from the interchange which marks the Ivorian-Japanese relationship. Starting from this we ask ourselves as follows:
What is the influence of the solibra interchange for the municipality of Marcory? To answer this question, we will show the importance or advantages of this interchange for the municipality
of Marcory

I. Background and history of the Project

The Ivorian-Japanese Friendship Interchange under study (hereinafter referred to as the Ivorian-Japanese Interchange) is the most congested bottleneck in the city
of Abidjan where Boulevard Valérie-Giscard-d'Estaing (VGE), the city's main road, and Boulevard de Gaulle intersect, and its rapid improvement is an urgent task
for the country. As part of the preparatory study for the improvement project of the said junction carried out by JICA in 2014 (phase 1), the segregated crossing of
3 out of 4 branches was proposed as a measure against congestion.
Phase 1 work, which began in 2016 as part of Japan's non-refundable financial cooperation, consists of raising west->east traffic on VGE Boulevard and North-
>East traffic on De Gaulle Boulevard, which require a rapid resolution of traffic jams. By raising the last branch for east->west traffic on VGE Boulevard, targeted
congestion mitigation will be achieved.

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 East->West traffic on VGE Boulevard provides access to the area where large shopping malls are concentrated, one of which is Japanese-owned, and the annual
increase in traffic on this road is estimated at 4%. In addition, increased attendance by the population is expected for the open-air theatre in Canal Park, adjacent to
the crossroads, following its renovation during the Francophonie project (which took place in July 2017). Thus, with regard to this crossing, it is expected that the
increase in traffic will be induced by urban development, and therefore all measures against traffic congestion (elevation) will have to be completed before a new
bottleneck for the road network can be established.

II. Objective of the construction of the Marcory solibra interchange

The objective of this Project is to solve the traffic bottleneck by levelling the Ivorian-Japanese interchange, which will make it possible to improve traffic flow in both
directions between the city centre and the suburbs, and even to make the movement of goods and people more efficient.
1. Results achieved
Construction of a fly-over interchange, etc. at the Ivorian-Japanese interchange.

2. Project website
Communes of Marcory and Treichville of the Autonomous District of Abidjan

3. Beneficiaries

Direct beneficiaries: users of the Ivorian-Japanese interchange and populations in the vicinity
Indirect beneficiaries: more than 6.55 million inhabitants of Greater Abidjan

【Guardianship Agency, Executing Agency】

Supervisory agency: Ministry of Equipment and Road Maintenance (formerly Ministry of Economic Infrastructure)
Executing agency: Road Management Agency (AGEROUTE)

III. Current status and problems of the sector concerned

1. Current and problematic status

In the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire (hereinafter referred to as "Côte d'Ivoire"), economic growth is expected in the short and medium term, and its GDP is also expected to
continue to grow steadily at a rate of 7.0 to 7.5%.
According to the comparison made in this study (2022) and the Development Project of the Urban Master Plan of Greater Abidjan in the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire (hereinafter referred
to as "the SDUGA") (2013), road traffic, which would have a strong correlation with the economy, increased by 30% in 2017, and the annual growth rate is also very high
with 6.84%.

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With regard to the modal share of 2023, passenger cars account for half of all vehicles, and their number has increased by about 1.5 times compared to 20 22, while the
increase in public transport, such as taxis and buses, remains minimal or even decreasing, indicating an increased dependence on private cars as a means of transport.
Table 1.1 Comparison of modal share between 2022 and 20 23
Motorcycle Private Private Woro- Gbaka/ Coupled Small Medium Large
and car car Woro Small bus Truck truck truck
tricycle Taxi Bus Trailer Total
service (van) bus
(Sedan)
2023 18,502 159,286 10,211 86,912 8,026 16,642 3,905 93 17,480 8,662 5,744 7,040 342,503
2022 9,476 104,531 12,471 75,638 24,834 8,123 3,277 151 9,234 5,603 3,466 6,053 262,858
Growth 195% 152% 82% 115% 32% 205% 119% 62% 189% 155% 166% 116% 130%
Growth 18.21% 11.10% - 3.53% - 19.64% 4.48% - 17.30% 11.51% 13.46% 3.85% 6.84%
rate 4.88% 24.60% 11.41%

Source: JICA fact-finding mission

Source: JICA fact-finding mission

Figure 1.1 Modal share comparison between 2022 and 20 23
Due to a sharp increase in traffic, a traffic improvement programme to curb the use of private cars has been proposed under the SDUGA. However, apart from the
development of the Ivorian-Japanese interchange, the implementation and implementation of this programme focused solely on the redevelopment of the Boulevard de
Marseille consisting of the construction of a four-lane road, which shows the delay in taking measures to improve supply in the face of increased demand. In particular,
the implementation of the highly anticipated urban train as a saviour to improve the traffic situation is still uncertain, despite the progress of the study.
2. Town planning
The SDUGA is a master plan study that draws a picture of the Greater Abidjan region in 2030 by reviewing the 2000 master plan.
The spatial development strategies of the latter are "the clear delimitation of the urbanized area or to be urbanized", "formation of an efficient and viable urban centre as
well as compact and functional", "balanced development of the
Downtown and suburbs", and "harmonization of the

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This program includes the project for the construction of three interchanges on Boulevard François Mitterrand financed by the JICA ODA loan (Project 15) as well as this
project (Project 14).
In November 2017, Côte d'Ivoire and the Millennium Challenge Corporation reached an agreement on the implementation of the Millennium Challenge Corporation
(MCC) Compact Agreement.
This MCC consists of the following 2 components.
• The Skills for Employability and Productivity Project, and
• The Abidjan Transport Project (PTA)
The goal of the ATP implementation is to reduce vehicle traffic costs and travel time on target sections of roads and to improve pedestrian and vehicle mobility and safety.
Its effects are expected through the following 4 programs.
Restoration work by being surface coating on 120 km of roads and highways of Abidjan.
Forecasting of demand for main roads in Abidjan, and formulation of the development plan and the general transport plan.
Formulation of a road safety and congestion reduction plan based on the results of the road inventory and the assessment of traffic accidents.
Improvement and organization of traffic lights at 10 intersections of VGE Boulevard.
The following 6 highways are covered by the PTA.
VGE Boulevard (8.6km)
Improvement of 10 intersections and construction of a fly-over at one intersection, out of the 14 intersections on the target section. Traffic improvement assistance,
coordinated with the African Development Bank-funded project on traffic signal systematization and centralization of traffic control on the road in question.
Boulevard of Port/Vridi/Petit Bassam (7.5km)

X
Ivorian-Japanese interchange

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 Transforming the target section into
4 lanes. Rehabilitation of 100 m of the current bridge.
Fishermen's Bridge (100 m) and access roads to Boulevard de Marseille (2.2km)
This includes the rehabilitation of 4 ha of land for the new construction of the Fishermen's Bridge.
Boulevard de la Paix (6.3km)
Transformation of the target section into 6 channels. The target section connects the Yopougon highway in 5) below to the Félix Houphouët-Boigny bridge (the first
bridge).
Although the correlation between traffic volume, population and household income is generally high, that in Abidjan is low, and its traffic volume increases considerably
relative to population growth. This phenomenon is due to the changing environment surrounding the purchase of passenger cars following the expansion of the automotive
industry, in particular the development of the second-hand car market.
The completion of the second level will shorten travel time between the commune of Plateau, which is the administrative and commercial centre of the country, and the
communes of Treichville, Marcory and Koumassi, where population growth is significant, thus planning to achieve poverty reduction through the revitalization of economic
activities and the expansion of employment. This coincides with the objective of supporting non-repayable financial cooperation and ensures the relevance of the
implementation of the project. In addition, it is expected that greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced by 40% or more compared to the current situation with the effect
of a high environmental improvement.
Consolidate stability and promote socio-economic development as a driving force in the sub-region: As Côte d'Ivoire plays a leading role in the West African region, its
stability and development are important for neighbouring countries. Japan will therefore ensure social stability by restoring internal peace and security as well as
administrative and social services destabilized by the civil war, and will support the stability and development of the country and the subregion by supporting the Ivorian
Government in its efforts to develop infrastructure, growth industry, etc.

IV. The importance of the solibra interchange for the municipality of Marcory

In a country where society is destabilized by a protracted civil war, one of the prerequisites for achieving sustainable economic growth is to stabilize society by restoring
peace, security and social services. Japan will also support Côte d'Ivoire in promoting the formation of a secure/reassuring and equitable society and contributing to the
country's self-sustaining growth, in order to restore people's trust in the State.

1. Secure company
Training human resources in police and judicial organizations, and building the capacity of these organizations.

2. Stable company
Support Côte d'Ivoire in restoring basic social services such as health, education and water supply, and in improving administrative functions.
3. Accelerating economic growth

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Although the Ivorian economy has long stagnated due to the civil war, the country remains the economic centre of WAEMU and is expected to play a leading role in the
subregional economy. In particular, Abidjan, the centre of the Ivorian economy, is the largest city in French-speaking West Africa where a quarter of the country's
population is concentrated, and its functional improvement would lead to accelerated economic growth in the country and the sub-region.

4. Infrastructure development
Develop not only urban infrastructure in Abidjan but also infrastructure such as international corridors from Abidjan, ports, etc., to lay the foundations for domestic and
sub-regional growth.
5. Industrial promotion
For Côte d'Ivoire to achieve sustainable economic growth, it is essential to promote private investment, and to identify and foster growing industries that can become basic
industries in the country. To this end, Japan will support it in promoting industries with high development potential, including those in the primary sector such as agriculture
and fisheries.

6. Promotion of public-private partnership

Given the growing interest of Japanese companies in Côte d'Ivoire, who are paying attention to the country's position in West Africa, the strong reconstruction and
development needs and the high potential for economic growth as well as the expansion of consumer markets, Japan will strategically consider projects that will contribute
to improving the investment environment for Japanese companies and public-private partnership.

General Bridge of Exchanger 3e bridge

Gaul Ivorian-Japanese
(N-S)

Exchanger
Ivorian-Japanese
Felix Bridge (E-O)
Houphouët
Boigny

VGE
Akwaba

Vridi Bridge

Source: JICA fact-finding mission

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 Figure 1.25 Traffic census result by section (comparison by vehicle type)
The results of the count can be analyzed as follows.

As shown in Figure 1.25, traffic volume decreased by about 6% between 2014 and 2017.  Although there is no major change in the composition of the vehicle type, private
car traffic has decreased, which is considered to be the effect of the deviation to the third bridge.
Estimated volume of traffic diverted to the third bridge
The volume of traffic diverted to the third bridge (comparison with/without) is estimated using the traffic model after calibration.
Based on the result of this calculation, approximately 15% of the traffic crossing the target intersection would have been diverted to the third bridge.

Environmental and social considerations

Organizations related to environmental and social considerations

Components having an impact on the natural and social environment

The main components that will have an impact on the natural and social environment during the development of the ivory-japanese interchange are as follows.
Preparatory phase: deposit of materials, establishment of site premises, relocation of public utilities such as underground facilities etc., temporary borrowing of the
park right-of-way, etc.
Construction phase: temporary road, temporary access road, pedestrian diversion, construction of the interchange, road development, pavement, material storage,
construction premises, temporary borrowing of the park right-of-way, etc.
The Ivorian-Japanese friendship interchange has a traffic volume of about one million four hundred thousand vehicles per day, and especially traffic jam occurs during
morning and evening rush hour. This traffic jam hinders economic activities such as distribution. In addition, many vehicles emit black smoke that would be caused by
lack of maintenance. This means that air pollution comes from this phenomenon.
At and around the Ivorian-Japanese interchange, surface water is not observed. Drinking water pipes and sewer pipes are buried. The main axis of the drinking water pipes
is buried in the east-west direction. On the other hand, the main axis of the sewer pipes is buried in the north-south direction. In addition, the pumping station for the sewer
is southeast of the intersection.
Demographics
As part of the SDUGA, forecasts of future traffic demand were made using data from population estimates of Greater Abidjan up to 2030. For this study, the projections are
made also taking into account the demographic framework of 2040 shown in Figure

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 Population (million)
12,000
10,000
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
0
2017 2025 2030 2040
SOLIBRA-PII 5,401 6,529 7,522 9,576
SDUGA2013 5,541 7,509 8,752

SOLIBRA-PII SDUGA2013

Source: JICA fact-finding mission

Figure 2.3 Projected Annual Population Framework

Comparison of screen-line traffic data

The 2013 traffic estimated under the SDUGA and the 2017 screen line traffic are compared.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion we can remember that the solibra interchange has an extreme influence on the development and living conditions of its inhabitants. Given
the importance that the interchange represents for this municipality as well as the symbol of friendship it represents for both countries (Japan and Ivory
Coast. A good conservation of this politico-economic heritage we must take care of to perpetuate it exist.

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