Overview
The roads network in the
Central African Republic covers a total distance of about 24,000 km
with only 700 km asphalted. The national roads are about 4,500 km
road while the regional roads cover about 3,900 km. The remaining
15,268 km (more than 60%) represents tracks or rural roads across
villages.
The whole network is rather in a bad shape since no proper
rehabilitation or maintenance programme is in place. Throughout the
country many villages are not reachable and almost cut off year
round (such as the Vakaga region in the north-eastern part of the
country). This constitutes a major constraint to the development of
these areas.
MINUSCA is rehabilitating roads and bridges for the movement of their troops, however,this is a temporary programme.
During the second part of 2018, ACTED, through the Logistics Cluster, started rehabilitating bridges based on the humanitarian community needs. This is executed through a “Brigade d’Intervention Mobile”.
During years 2014, 2015, 2016, WFP together with ACTED has rehabilitated several bridges and ferries but the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Infrastructures didn’t approach the local communities to sensitize them on the importance of this activity and most of the wood and iron used to rehabilitate the works were looted. Up to 30 bridges were rehabilitated between: Bozoum and Bocaranga, Bozoum and Paoua, Bozoum and Bossangoa,Bozoum and Bossemptele, as well as Dam of Bozoum. One ferry and 13 bridges were rehabilitated between Grimari and Kouango.
The private company SOGEA/ SATOM with a two-year contract is working on the tar road from Bouar to Baoro (east of Bouar). End of the rehabilitation is expected in 2020. From 2010 to 2013, the road between Garoua Boulai and Bouar was rehabilitated (tar) by a Chinese company and SATOM.
UNOPS with a support of the World Bank started rehabilitating the road between Kaga-Bandoro and Ndele as well as the 43-meter bridge of Bamingi. This should be finalized by the end of 2018. The second part between Ndele and Birao rehabilitation should start soon (July 2019). The second project funded by World Bank should be completed by 2021. At the same time, UNOPS is purchasing heavy duty equipment and will train staff from the Ministry of Infrastructure to maintain the road between Kaga and Ndele and between Ndele and Birao.
Rain
barriers
There is no specific restriction on road traffic during the rainy
season as it is the case in some neighboring countries, where
several unpaved roads are close. However, rain barriers are
established across the country in order to avoid further
deterioration of the dirt roads. Heavy trucks should therefore wait
until the end of rains (about six hours) before trip can continue.
This restriction applies particularly/strictly on newly
rehabilitated roads. In 2018 and 2019, UNOPS will train staff
from the Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Infrastructure on
management of rain barriers.
For information on Central African Republic Road Network Contact details, please see the following link:
4.2.1 Central African Republic Government Contact List
Distance Matrix
Ministry of Transport RCA_Road_distance_matrix_2018.05.25
Travel Time Matrix
Not available - it depends on the dry and wet season; rainy season is from May to November. Travel time depends also on the availability of MINUSCA escorts.