Improving Madagascar’s road infrastructure

Improving Madagascar’s road infrastructure

Improving Madagascar’s road infrastructure is critical for the country’s economic growth.

By Leon Louw founder of WhyAfrica and editor of the WhyAfrica magazine

New attempts to develop, expand and revitalise critical road and rail infrastructure in Madagascar has been welcomed by all stakeholders interested in expanding operations across the island nation with a population of more than 30 million people.

The country’s road and rail infrastructure face significant challenges though. A lack of maintenance, limited resources, topography, political factors and extreme weather events have made it difficult to improve existing road and rail arteries.

Current road network

Madagascar has a road network of close to 50,000km of which only about 20% is paved. Most of the sealed roads are found around major urban centres and key transport corridors.

The rest of the network consists of unpaved, dirt roads which often become impassable during the rainy season due to flooding and landslides.

Major Highways

• RN1 (Route Nationale 1): The RN1 links the capital city, Antananarivo, with the northern region, heading towards Mahajanga and Nosy Be, a major tourist destination.
• RN7: The RN7 is a key route connecting the capital to the south, through cities like Antsirabe, Fianarantsoa, and Toliara, which is vital for agricultural trade and tourism.
• RN4: Connects Antananarivo to the western coast and to cities like Antsohihy and the port city of Mahajanga.

Challenges and improvement projects 

Challenges 

A number of factors have resulted in the deterioration of roads in Madagascar. The regression is especially noticeable in the rural areas where roads are closed during the rainy season from November to April. This affects trade and the mobility of people in remote regions.

Recent improvements and projects    

Madagascar has been receiving international aid and funding to improve its road infrastructure, with road rehabilitation projects and new constructions aimed at improving access, especially in rural areas and ports.

As Madagascar depends on sea transport, efforts have been made to improve roads that connect the inland areas to major ports like Toamasina and Toliara.

Funds to connect the south

Recently the African Development Bank Group approved a USD165-million loan to Madagascar to support a major infrastructure project to improve trade corridors across the country.

The project aims to contribute to economic and social integration in the southern part of Madagascar by opening up every part of the region. It will achieve this by building and operationalizing transport corridors to the rest of the country and to Africa as a whole while, strengthening trade facilitation procedures and processes between the ports of Tuléar and Beira.

At the same time, the project will create new economic opportunities for local people by improving trade in agricultural products, livestock, and fish. It will contribute to economic growth and poverty reduction in the region by improving access to markets.”

The project will improve key road infrastructure across two southern regions of Madagascar: Atsimo Andrefana and Menabe. This includes upgrading a 78-kilometer stretch of road between Bevoay and Morombe, which passes through important agricultural areas that produce 29,000 tonnes of crops annually.

A significant part of the project involves reconstructing the Manombo bridge and creating two new two-lane bridges spanning 460 meters to enhance road connectivity. These improvements will create smoother transportation routes and strengthen Madagascar’s national economic development.

Improving Madagascar’s road infrastructure