Madagascar
Madagascar - 2.3 Road Network
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The Malagasy road network is currently estimated at 31,640 km of roads and is divided into three categories of networks:

Madagascar Roads

• The national roads (approximately 11,746 km)

• The Provincial Highways

• The network of municipal roads

Of the 31,640 km of roads, official statistics showed that only 10% of roads were in good condition and practicable throughout the year, 28% in average condition and 64% in poor condition. These statistics remain very optimistic due to the high deterioration of main asphalt road.

 

Despite this deplorable situation, the Malagasy government spends only 8% of its budget on infrastructure. The European Union, the World Bank and the African Development Bank have come to the rescue to improve road infrastructure, but this does not prevent the road network in the country from deteriorating.

To the decrepit Malagasy roads and lack of maintenance are added the consequences of natural disasters like cyclones and floods.

 

The construction of roads to open up territories and increase agricultural production is one of the priorities of the next few years without really knowing where the funding will come from.

 

For more information on government contact details, please see the following link:

 

 

Distance Matrix

Distances from Capital City to Major Towns (km)

If two figures are mentioned,

It means there are two possibilities for the trip.

Antananarivo

Ampanihy

Antsirabe

Diego-Suarez

Fianarantsoa

Fort-Dauphin

Ihosy

Mahajanga

Manakara

Morondava

Sambava

Tamatave

Tuléar

Antananarivo

 

1188

169

1174

410

1122

616

580

590

701

1194

369

950

Ampanihy

1188

 

933

2262

878

334

472

620

1666

1814

1170

1451

1585

2448

1457

292

Antsirabe

169

933

 

1343

241

953

1267

447

747

421

532

1529

538

781

Diego- Suarez

1174

2262

1343

 

1584

2610

1790

659

902

1764

1875

448

1543

2124

Fianarantsoa

410

878

241

1584

 

712

206

988

292

773

1770

779

540

Fort-Dauphin

1122

334

953

1267

2610

712

 

506

806

1700

1004

1485

2482

1491

626

Ihosy

616

472

620

447

1790

206

506

806

 

1194

498

979

1976

985

320

Mahajanga

580

1666

1814

747

659

902

988

1700

1194

 

1168

1279

1088

947

1528

Manakara

590

1170

421

1164

292

1004

498

1168

 

953

1950

959

932

Morondava

701

1451

1585

532

1875

773

1885

879

1279

953

 

2061

1070

1313

Sambava

1194

2448

1529

448

1770

2482

1976

1088

1950

2061

 

1729

2310

Tamatave

369

1457

538

1543

779

1491

985

947

959

1070

1729

 

1883

Tuléar

950

292

781

2124

540

627

320

334

1528

832

1313

2310

1883

 

Travel Time from Capital City to Major Towns (hours)

Travel time given approximately considering the shortest road and during dry season.

Antananarivo

Ampanihy

Antsirabe

Diego-Suarez

Fianarantsoa

Fort-Dauphin

Ihosy

Mahajanga

Manakara

Morondava

Sambava

Tamatave

Tuléar

Antananarivo

 

24

3

22

8

30

11

8

16

20

29

8

16

Ampanihy

24

 

21

46

16

16

12

32

22

34

53

32

9

Antsirabe

3

21

 

25

5

27

8

11

16

13

32

11

13

Diego- Suarez

22

46

25

 

30

52

33

16

35

35

18

30

36

Fianarantsoa

8

16

5

30

 

22

4

16

6

17

37

16

9

Fort-Dauphin

30

16

27

52

22

 

19

38

28

40

59

22

24

Ihosy

11

12

8

33

4

19

 

19

24

27

40

19

5

Mahajanga

8

32

11

16

16

38

19

 

21

24

24

16

25

Manakara

13

22

16

35

6

28

24

21

 

29

42

21

15

Morondava

16

34

13

35

17

40

27

24

29

 

45

24

33

Sambava

29

53

32

18

37

59

40

24

42

45

 

37

46

Tamatave

8

32

11

30

16

22

19

16

21

24

37

 

25

Tuléar

17

9

14

37

9

25

5

24

15

33

46

25

 

 

Road Security

Road safety in Madagascar is problematic and should be taken seriously due to several factors:

-       Condition of infrastructure: road infrastructure is in very poor condition, if only about 10% of the network is asphalted, 48% of it is in poor condition with dilapidated structures often damaged by heavy rains or catastrophes natural.

 

-       No signaling: Road signs are almost non-existent and local drivers often do not even know the basics of road traffic, not respecting speed limits, priorities or good passing practices.

 

-       Vehicle fleet: the car fleet at national level is constantly increasing, with mostly old vehicles (between 10 and 15 years old) and poorly maintained. In addition, most spare parts are fake or poor quality

 

-       Obstacles: Roads are equally as used by vehicles, as by pedestrians, carts and itinerant herds. Out of the main streets of large cities, lighting is non-existent, so it is advisable to be very vigilant.

 

-       Criminality: There is a high risk of crime if travelling by road in Madagascar, including carjacking and armed robbery, particularly at night. Owing to reports of an increasing number of violent highway robberies, a particularly high level of vigilance should be maintain if traveling on the following roads: RN7, RN27, RN10, RN13 and the RN1B (between Tsiroanomandidy and Maintirano).

Road Pictures

RN2: Main national road linking the international port of Toamasina to Antananarivo. 75% of the importation product are 

Road National (RN) 7: Road linking the capital to the southern parts of the country. This road is known to be the most touristic road across the country.

Broken bridge on the RN7 at Vohiposa level on the 18th of September 2017. The European Union has mobilized funds for the establishment of an emergency diversion

Road National (RN) 13: from Ihosy, going to Tolagnaro, it become very difficult during the rainy season

Road National (RN) 13: linking Tolagnaro to Toliara, it become very difficult during the rainy season

Secondary roads: Few pictures of how can be the secondary roads, a kind of locally made bridge and a Bac used to cross some rivers.

Others: Example of roads affected by flooding or cyclones

 

 

 

 

 

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