Libya - 2.3 Libya Road Network
September 2023 Floods - Temporary information
Info as of 14 September 2023.
The Roads and Bridges Authority announced the damaged road network is estimated at 30 kilometers around Derna and the closure of the roads connecting Shahat and Mansoura to Souss; Qasr Libya and Marawa; and the road connecting Ras Al-Hilal and the city of Derna. The roads passing through Qasr Libya, Al Baydah, Shahat and Ras Al Hilal areas have been affected by landslides in the hilly areas. Alternate routes are available, but while they are not easily passable for trucks, one of our partners was able to move larger trucks with medical supplies from Tripoli to Derna. Authorities are trying to open access to facilitate rescue and aid missions.
The road network density is generally satisfactory, the total length of Libya's paved road network is about 34,000 km, of which about 15,500 km primary roads, the secondary and agricultural road network is about at 18,500 km. The highway network is classified into four main roadway types:
Expressways: Roads arteries outside municipal borders linking the cities and regions with two carriage ways and at least four lanes (two lanes or more in each direction).
Main roads: Roadways linking cities and regions, or serving cities within municipal boundaries, there are single carriageway roads for good paved standard or dual carriage ways with 2 lanes in each direction.
Secondary roads: These link district centers and villages.
Agricultural roads: Roads linking agricultural land and farms with markets.
Many rural roads are unpaved. Major highways along the seacoast and leading south merge into single lane. highways once they are outside major cities. These roads are heavily trafficked and can be precarious to navigate, especially at night and during the winter rainy season. The presence of sand deposits, as well as domestic and wild animals that frequently cross these highways and rural roads, makes them even more hazardous.
Most of road networks renovations and constructing new projects has been suspended due to the security situation in Libya, and the government is studying all potential means to resume developing road network projects.
The security situation and power struggle in country are considered the main challenges to establish a new transport projects and develop and improve the current road network.
For more information on government contact details, please see the following link:
Distance Matrix
|
Distances from Capital City to Major Towns (km) |
||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Tripoli |
Alkums |
Misratah |
Sirt |
Benghazi |
Tobruk |
Sebha |
Zwarah |
|
Tripoli |
|
119 |
210 |
455 |
1020 |
1261 |
773 |
119 |
|
Alkums |
119 |
|
95 |
340 |
905 |
1146 |
825 |
232 |
|
Misratah |
210 |
95 |
|
273 |
838 |
1079 |
730 |
323 |
|
Sirt |
455 |
340 |
273 |
|
570 |
810 |
622 |
567 |
|
Benghazi |
1020
|
905 |
838 |
570 |
|
433 |
1177 |
1132 |
|
Tobruk |
1261 |
1146 |
1079 |
810 |
433 |
|
1417 |
1373 |
|
Sebha |
773 |
825 |
730 |
622 |
1177 |
1417 |
|
823 |
|
Zwarah |
119 |
232 |
323 |
567 |
1132 |
1373 |
823 |
|
|
Travel Time from Capital City to Major Towns (hours & minutes) |
||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Tripoli |
Alkums |
Misratah |
Sirt |
Benghazi |
Tobruk |
Sebha |
Zwarah |
|
Tripoli |
|
1h+40m |
2h+40m |
6h |
11h+40m |
15h+20m |
10h |
1h+50m |
|
Alkums |
1h+40m |
|
1h+15m |
4h+35m |
10h+15m |
14h |
11h |
3h+10m |
|
Misratah |
2h+40m |
1h+15m |
|
3h+50m |
9h+30m |
13h+10m |
10h+30m |
4h+10m |
|
Sirt |
6h |
4h+35m |
3h+50m |
|
6h |
9h+40m |
8h+45m |
7h+30m |
|
Benghazi |
11h+40m |
10h+15m |
9h+30m |
6h |
|
5h+15m |
14h+15m |
13h+10m |
|
Tobruk |
15h+20m |
14h |
13h+10m |
9h+40m |
5h+15m |
|
18h |
17h |
|
Sebha |
10h |
11h |
10h+30m |
8h+45m |
14h+15m |
18h |
|
10h+50m |
|
Zwarah |
1h+50m |
3h+10m |
4h+10m |
7h+30m |
13h+10m |
17h |
10h+50m |
|
Road Security
The availability of roadside assistance is extremely limited and offered only in arabic. In urban areas and near the outskirts of major cities there is a greater possibility of assistance by police and emergency ambulance services, although emergency care providers are usually ill-equipped to deal with serious injuries or accidents. Very few streets are marked or have signage, and highway signs are normally available only in Arabic. Various militias have supplanted the police in maintaining internal security. An armed group usually operating checkpoints within and between major cities.
Road travel within Libya remains highly dangerous. There continues to be a risk of being caught up in outbreaks of hostilities. There’s also a high risk of carjacking and robbery.
All movements (especially travelling) should be carefully planned; roads assessment and security arrangement should be done prior to any movement. The areas have been divided into zones (green zone, yellow zone, and red zone) by UNDSS, and movement rules for each zone has been identified.
Weighbridges and Axle Load Limits
All loaded trucks coming through the borders and from the ports should weigh both axle weights and gross vehicle weights. This helps to stop axle overloading, that roads in Libya suffer from. Breaking the regulations of and load limits are subject to heavy fines.
|
Axle Load Limits |
Libya |
|---|---|
|
Truck with 2 Axles |
16 |
|
Truck with 3 Axles |
26 |
|
Truck with 4 Axles |
36 |
|
Semi-trailer with 3 Axles |
26 |
|
Semi-trailer with 4 Axles |
36 |
|
Semi-trailer with 5 Axles |
46 |
|
Semi-trailer with 6 Axles |
56 |
|
Truck & Drawbar Trailer with 4 Axles |
36 |
|
Truck & Drawbar Trailer with 5 Axles |
46 |
|
Truck & Drawbar Trailer with 6 Axles |
56 |
|
Truck & Drawbar Trailer with 7 Axles |
66 |
Libya - 2.3.1 Libya Border Crossing of Ras Ajdir
Overview
Ras Ajdir is the main and most dynamic border between Tunisia and Libya. Most of the humanitarian aids and commercial shipments between Tunisia and Libya go through this border.
On Friday, September 17, 2021, the border crossing between Libya and Tunisia reopened after a closure that lasted for more than two months, because of an agreement between the Tunisian and Libyan authorities on health arrangements in relation to preventing infection from the Corona virus.
We also stress that the movement is very slow through the crossing, due to the COVID19 protocol that is imposed by the two countries in their recent agreement on reopening the borders, which require that travellers from both sides have completed vaccination with the obligation to present a negative PCR analysis, and in the absence of this condition. They are required to enter a compulsory quarantine in the hostel at their expense.
From Tunisian side, there are the customs office and Tunisian National Tourist Office there. The free zone and the port are 78 km far from the border, and different facilities such as weighbridge scale and fuel station are available around.
|
Border Crossing Location and Contact |
|
|---|---|
|
Name of Border Crossing |
Ras Ajdir |
|
Province or District |
Ben Gardane-Medenine (Tunisia Side) Zultn (Libya side). |
|
Nearest Town or City with Distance from Border Crossing |
Zarzis: 78 km (Tunisia Side) Zwarah: 60 km (Libya side). |
|
Latitude |
33.148833° |
|
Longitude |
11.563167° |
|
Managing Authority / Agency |
-The Tunisian government (Tunisia side). - Government of national Accord (Libya Side). |
|
Contact Person |
1- Tunisia Side: Name: Omar Al Ouref Title: Custom Manager. Phone: 00216 98430856 Office: Tel: 00216 75726055 Fax: 00216 75726085 Email:bf.rasjdir@douane.gov.tn 2- Libya Side: Name: Abderzak Mahdhi Title: Custom Manager Phone: 00218913143316 |
|
Travel Times |
|
|---|---|
|
Nearest International Airport |
Name: Djerba-Zarzis International Airport (Tunisia side) Distance in km: 140 km Truck Travel Time: 24 hrs Car Travel time:24 hrs Name: Tripoli International Airport (Libya side) Distance in km: 175 km Truck Travel Time: 24 hrs Car Travel time:24 hrs |
|
Nearest Port |
1- Zarzis port (Tunisia Side) Distance in km:78 km Truck Travel Time: 24 hrs Car Travel time: 24 hrs 2-Zwarah (Libya side) Distance in km: 60 km Truck Travel Time: 24hrs Car Travel time: 24hrs |
|
Nearest location with functioning wholesale markets, or with significant manufacturing or production capacity |
1- Zarzis (Tunisia Side) Distance in km:78 km Truck Travel Time: 24 hrs Car Travel time: 24 hrs 2- Zwarah (Libya Side) Distance in km: 60 km Truck Travel Time: 24hrs Car Travel time: 24hrs |
|
Other Information
|
None |
|
Hours of Operation |
|
|---|---|
|
Mondays |
8:00-18:00 |
|
Tuesdays |
8:00-18:00 |
|
Wednesdays |
8:00-18:00 |
|
Thursdays |
8:00-18:00 |
|
Fridays |
Off (Libya side), unless it’s emergency cargo |
|
Saturdays |
8:00-18:00 |
|
Sundays |
Off (Tunisia side), unless it’s emergency cargo |
|
National Holidays |
Off, unless it’s emergency cargo |
|
Seasonal Constraints |
N/A |
Daily Capacity
As Ras Ajdir is the main border between Tunisia and Libya so it is congested with many commercial and humanitarian trucks, in addition to the movement of passengers travelling by private and taxi cars.
Although the border is organized by separating the lanes between trucks and cars, in normal situation the custom can release up to 300 trucks daily, and the priority is given to the humanitarian shipments, but still in case of extreme overcrowding, even the trucks loaded with humanitarian aids are subject to stuck at the border for few days.
Customs Clearance
Based on the Custom Department in Tunisia and Libya, the following documents are required to clear the goods at the borders:
- Exporting or re-exporting documents from Tunisia to Libya are required.
- Other related documents:
- Copy of the Waybill.
- Copy of certificate of origin.
- Copy of Packing list.
- Shipping Invoice.
- Copy of Certificate of analysis
However, and due to bureaucracy and number of checkpoints affiliated to different groups/authorities, we can sometimes expect delay at the borders. All goods will be inspected at the border and samples will be taken for analysis, but generally this process is done swiftly and don’t take time. Humanitarian aids are exempted from the custom fees; they just pay nominal amount as administrative expenses. While the commercial
For more information on customs in Libya, please see the following link: 1.3 Libya Customs Information
Other Relevant Information
In general, if the clearance documents were ready, the custom clearance process would be finalized in few hours (unless the border is overcrowded), In some cases, and especially for humanitarian aids the custom clearance process might be conducted out of working hours and on the weekend or holidays.
And there is restriction in importing IT and telecommunication equipment from abroad. There is no clear regulation, but the humanitarian organisations have experienced difficulties in importing such equipment.
This border was and still used for smuggling goods between the two countries (especially fuel from Libya to Tunisia), so if there is a suspicion of smuggling, then the trucks and cars are subject to a stricter inspection.
There are many checkpoints controlled by different groups, along the way to the final distention. These check points impede and delay the movement of the trucks
For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Libya Government Contact List
Libya - 2.3.2 Libya Border Crossing of Dehiba Wazin
Overview
Dehiba-Wazin is the secondary land border between Tunisia and Libya. It is used to deliver goods directly to southern Libya.
In 2018 and 20219 this border has been expanded, maintained and has been equipped with new equipment with the focus of all protection and monitoring devices Sophisticated. These works include the expansion of the crossing, which will include 10 entry and exit corridors, a new headquarters for the management of the border crossing, containing several offices and Diwaniyah cells, a warehouse for reservations, a restaurant, a prayer hall, accommodation for staff, a gym, and a playground. At a total cost of about 16 million dinars, on an area of about 16 hectares.
The main challenges that might impede the influx of the items are due to security issues in Libya and COVID19 pandemic restrictions, the border has been closed for more than 3 months, on 17 September 2021, the border was reopened with the complete application of the health protocol.
|
Border Crossing Location and Contact |
|
|---|---|
|
Name of Border Crossing |
Country Libya: Wazin Country Tunisia: Dehiba. |
|
Province or District |
Tatahouine (Tunisia Side) Nalut (Libya side) |
|
Nearest Town or City with Distance from Border Crossing |
Tatahouine:130 km far from the border (Tunisia Side) Nalut: 54 km far from the border (Libya side) |
|
Latitude |
31.975694° |
|
Longitude |
10.683806° |
|
Managing Authority / Agency |
The Tunisian government (Tunisia side). Government of national Accord (Libya Side). |
|
Contact Person |
-Tunisia Side: Name: Nizar Chawat Title: Customer Manager Phone :0021629555249/00216 92978000 Office Tel: 75864150 Fax:75864150 Email: bf.dhibet@douane.gov.tn -Libya Side: Name: Sabri Askari. Title: Customer Officer Phone :00218 92-4247697 |
|
Travel Times |
|
|---|---|
|
Nearest International Airport |
Djerba-Zarzis International Airport (Tunisia side). Distance in km: 268 Truck Travel Time: 4 hrs Car Travel time:3 hrs Tripoli International Airport (Libya side). Distance in km: 287 Truck Travel Time: 4.5hrs Car Travel time: 3.5 hrs |
|
Nearest Port |
Zarzis port (Tunisia Side) Distance in km: 255.4 Truck Travel Time: 3.5 hrs Car Travel time: 2.5hrs Tripoli port (Libya Side) Distance in km: 287 Truck Travel Time: 3.5hrs Car Travel time: 3 hrs |
|
Nearest location with functioning wholesale markets, or with significant manufacturing or production capacity |
Tatahouine (Tunisia Side), and Nalut (Libya side). Truck Travel Time: 24hrs Car Travel time: 24hrs |
|
Hours of Operation |
|
|---|---|
|
Mondays |
8:00-18:00 |
|
Tuesdays |
8:00-18:00 |
|
Wednesdays |
8:00-18:00 |
|
Thursdays |
8:00-18:00 |
|
Fridays |
Off (Libya side) Unless it’s emergency |
|
Saturdays |
8:00-18:00 |
|
Sundays |
Off (Tunisia side) Unless it’s emergency |
|
National Holidays
|
Off, Unless it’s emergency |
|
Seasonal Constraints |
None |
Daily Capacity
Dehiba-Wazin normally is not crowded with cars or trucks as it is a secondary border between Libya and Tunisia unless Ras Ajdir borders is closed for some reasons.
The border is organized with different lanes for trucks and cars, and in normal situation the custom can release up to 200 trucks daily. The priority is given generally to the humanitarian shipments, but the trucks loaded with humanitarian aids can subject to stuck at the border for few days in case of extreme overcrowding, which is rarely happens.
Customs Clearance
Based on the Custom Department in Tunisia and Libya, the following documents are required to clear the goods at the borders:
- Exporting or re-exporting documents from Tunisia to Libya are required.
- Other related documents:
- Copy of the Waybill.
- Copy of certificate of origin.
- Copy of packing list.
- Shipping invoice.
- Copy of Certificate of analysis
However, and due to bureaucracy and number of checkpoints affiliated to different groups/authorities, we can sometimes expect delay at the borders.
All goods will be inspected at the border and samples will be taken for analysis, but generally this process is done swiftly and don’t take time.
Humanitarian aids are exempted from the custom fees; they just pay nominal amount as administrative expenses. While the commercial trucks pay roughly between 100-200 LD (depending on the size and type of the cargo).
For more information on customs in Libya, please see the following link: 1.3 Libya Customs Information
Other Relevant Information
In general, if the shipping documents were ready, the custom clearance process would be finalized in few hours (unless the border is overcrowded). In some cases, and especially for humanitarian aids the custom clearance process might be conducted out of working hours and on the weekend or holidays.
There are restrictions on importing IT and telecommunication equipment from abroad. There is no clear regulations, but the humanitarian organizations have experienced difficulties in importing such equipment.
This border was and still used for smuggling goods between the two countries (especially fuel from Libya to Tunisia and food from Tunisia to Libya), so if there is a suspicion of smuggling, then the trucks and cars are subject to a stricter inspection.
There are many checkpoints controlled by different groups, along the way to the final destination. These check points impede and delay the movement of trucks and cars.
For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Libya Government Contact List
Libya - 2.3.3 Libya Border Crossing of Amsaad-Salloum
Overview
Amsaad-Salloum is a Libyan crossing border in addition to being an area affiliated to the municipality of Tobruk, located on the Libyan border with Egypt. It is about 150 km east of the city of Tobruk, and commercial shipments between Egypt and Libya go through this border.
The main challenges that might impede the influx of the items are:
- Due to security issues in Libya and COVID19 restrictions, the border has been closed for more than 3 months, while the commercial movement could bring goods both ways.
- The unclear custom clearance procedures at the Libyan side.
|
Border Crossing Location and Contact |
|
|---|---|
|
Name of Border Crossing |
Country Libya: Amsaed |
|
Province or District |
Amsaed (Libya side) Sallum (Egypt Side) |
|
Nearest Town or City with Distance from Border Crossing |
Tuprok: 150 km (Libya Side) Marsa Matroh: 215 km (Egypt Side) |
|
Latitude |
31.575833° |
|
Longitude |
25.039722° |
|
Managing Authority / Agency |
The Egyptian government (Egypt side) Government of National Accord (Libya Side) |
|
Contact Person |
Name: Shoiab saad Title: Custom Officer Tel: +218 944150832 |
|
Travel Times |
|
|---|---|
|
Nearest International Airport |
Tubrok International Airport Distance in km: 160 Truck Travel Time: 4 hrs Car Travel time:2 hrs |
|
Nearest Port |
Tobruk Port Distance in km:150 Truck Travel Time: 2 hrs Car Travel time: 2 hrs |
|
Nearest location with functioning wholesale markets, or with significant manufacturing or production capacity |
Tobruk Distance in km:150 Truck Travel Time: 2 hrs Car Travel time: 2 hrs |
|
Hours of Operation |
|
|---|---|
|
Mondays |
7:00-19:00 |
|
Tuesdays |
7:00-19:00 |
|
Wednesdays |
7:00-19:00 |
|
Thursdays |
7:00-19:00 |
|
Fridays |
Off, unless it’s emergency cargo |
|
Saturdays |
7:00-19:00 |
|
Sundays |
7:00-19:00 |
|
National Holidays |
Off, unless it’s emergency cargo |
|
Seasonal Constraints |
None |
Daily Capacity
As it is the main border between Egypt and Libya so it is congested with many commercial and humanitarian trucks, in addition to the movement of passengers travelling by private and Taxi cars. The border is organized by separating the lanes between trucks and cars, in normal situation the custom can release up to 400 trucks daily, and the priority is given to the humanitarian shipments, but still in case of extreme overcrowding, even the trucks loaded with humanitarian aids are subject to stuck at the border for few days.
Customs Clearance
Based on the Custom Department in Egypt and Libya, the following documents are required to clear the goods at the borders:
- Exporting or re-exporting documents from Egypt to Libya are required.
- Copy of the waybill.
- Copy of certificate of origin.
- Copy of Packing list.
- Shipping Invoice.
- Copy of Certificate of analysis
For more information on customs in Libya, please see the following link: 1.3 Libya Customs Information
Other Relevant Information
In general, if the shipping documents are set, the custom clearance process would be finalized in few hours (unless the border is overcrowded). In some cases, and especially for humanitarian aids the custom clearance process might be conducted out of working hours and on the weekend or holidays.
There are many checkpoints controlled by different groups, along the way to the final destination. These check points impede and delay the movement of trucks and cars.
For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Libya Government Contact List