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Dakar–Diamniadio Toll Highway (Autoroute à Péage)

Senegal's first modern toll motorway, cutting the trip from Dakar to its new administrative capital from 2 hours to 30 minutes.

Explainer film in production
§ 01About the project

The Dakar–Diamniadio Toll Highway is Senegal's first modern motorway, a 32 km dual carriageway connecting central Dakar to the new city of Diamniadio and onward to the Blaise Diagne International Airport. Built under a PPP concession at a cost of approximately €380 million ($430 million), the highway was completed in phases between 2013 and 2016. It features 6 lanes in some sections and electronic toll collection. The highway has been extended to the airport (AIBD), creating a 48 km total corridor. It is operated by SENAC (Société d'Exploitation de l'Autoroute à Péage), a concession held by Eiffage.

§ 02What it aims to do
  1. 01Provide a modern motorway link between Dakar and the new administrative city of Diamniadio
  2. 02Reduce crippling traffic congestion on the main corridor out of Dakar
  3. 03Connect the capital to Blaise Diagne International Airport via a high-speed road
  4. 04Introduce modern toll road infrastructure and PPP financing in Senegal
  5. 05Support the development of Diamniadio as Senegal's new administrative and economic hub
  6. 06Reduce travel time from 2+ hours to under 30 minutes
§ 03Milestones
  1. 2009 · completed

    Concession Agreement Signed

    Senegal signed a 30-year concession agreement with Eiffage for the construction and operation of the toll highway.

  2. 2013 · completed

    Phase 1 Opens

    The first 20 km section from Dakar (Patte d'Oie) to Pikine was opened to traffic.

  3. 2016 · completed

    Full Highway Opens

    The complete 32 km highway to Diamniadio was inaugurated, with President Macky Sall presiding.

  4. 2017 · completed

    Airport Extension Opens

    The 16 km extension from Diamniadio to Blaise Diagne International Airport was completed.

  5. 2022 · completed

    Diamniadio City Growth

    The new city of Diamniadio saw rapid growth in government buildings, convention centres, and housing, enabled by the highway.

  6. 2024 · in progress

    Further Extensions Planned

    Plans for extending the motorway network to Thiès and beyond were advanced by the government.

§ 04Engineering & resources

Concessionaire/Operator

Eiffage / SENAC

French construction group Eiffage holds the 30-year concession through SENAC, its Senegalese subsidiary.

Government Agency

APIX (Agence de Promotion des Investissements)

Senegal's investment promotion agency that structured the PPP and oversees the concession.

Financiers

World Bank / IFC

Provided partial risk guarantees and advisory services for the PPP structure.

Project Owner

Government of Senegal

The national government that conceived the project as part of Senegal's Plan Sénégal Émergent.

  • Modern toll motorway with electronic toll collection
  • 6-lane divided highway (4+2 configuration)
  • Grade-separated interchanges
  • Modern highway drainage and safety barriers
  • Intelligent transport system with CCTV monitoring
  • Noise barriers in urban sections

What it means for the community

The highway has reduced travel time between Dakar and Diamniadio from over 2 hours to approximately 30 minutes, benefiting over 100,000 daily users. It has been the catalyst for the rapid development of Diamniadio new city, which now hosts the Abdou Diouf International Conference Centre, government ministries, and major commercial developments. The project created over 4,000 construction jobs and serves as a model PPP transaction for West Africa.

§ 05Articles

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§ 06Partners & owners
  • Government of Senegal