Construction of the Rosso Bridge - Mauritania-Senegal

This project aims to contribute to strengthening cooperation and integration in Africa by closing missing links of Trans-African Corridor No. 1 (Cairo–Dakar). More specifically, it seeks to improve, on the one hand, the conditions for crossing the border between Mauritania and Senegal, and on the other hand, access to basic services and living conditions for the populations within the Project Influence Zone, namely the Trarza Region (Wilaya of Trarza) in Mauritania and the Saint-Louis Region in Senegal.

The project involves the construction of a bridge at Rosso, linking the two banks of the Senegal River. Its objectives are to:

• (i) eliminate a major obstacle to the implementation of economic development and regional/continental integration policies caused by the absence of a permanent crossing structure over the Senegal River;
• (ii) promote transport activities along the Trans-African corridors Tangier–Lagos and Algiers–Dakar, as well as between Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa.

The Rosso Bridge completes the Nouakchott–Dakar axis and constitutes an important link in the coastal corridor connecting Cairo to Dakar. Its construction will reduce border crossing times while facilitating administrative and customs formalities. This project has been labeled Global Gateway by the European Union.

The project was approved on December 9, 2016. Its total cost amounts to EUR 87.62 million (excluding taxes). It is co-financed by:

• The European Investment Bank (EIB – loan of EUR 22.33 million),
• The European Union through a grant from the Africa Investment Facility (EUR 20.5 million),
• The African Development Bank (loan of EUR 40.75 million), and
• The national budgets of Mauritania and Senegal: EUR 5 million (EUR 1.05 million and EUR 3.49 million respectively).

Project Components

A. Bridge and Access Road Construction Works

• (A.1) Construction of the bridge and its access viaducts with a total length of approximately 1,461 meters over the Senegal River, including environmental measures;
• (A.2) 8.367 km of road connections and development of 2 roundabouts;
• (A.3) 9,517 m² of parking areas for vehicles;
• (A.4) Supervision and monitoring of the works;
• (A.5) Awareness-raising campaigns for local populations.

B. Related Developments

• (B.1) Development of urban roads and related rural tracks,
• (B.2) Rehabilitation of school and health infrastructures,
• (B.3) Construction of urban infrastructure (bus station, waste management, extension of drinking water supply, etc.),
• (B.4) Construction of market infrastructure,
• (B.5) Support for women, youth, and vulnerable groups,
• (B.6) Supervision and monitoring of related development works.

C. Implementation of Transport and Transit Facilitation Measures

• (C.1) Design and functionality studies of Joint Border Posts (JBP),
• (C.2) Construction and equipment of joint border posts,
• (C.3) Supervision and monitoring of JBP construction works,
• (C.4) Training/awareness for border services and users,
• (C.5) Harmonization of customs procedures between the two countries,
• (C.6) Preparation of the Unified Border Post procedures manual,
• (C.7) Master plan study for the city of Rosso, Mauritania,
• (C.8) Study of the western bypass road of the city of Nouakchott.

D. Project Management and Monitoring

• (D.1) Support to the Project Management Unit,
• (D.2) Audit of project accounts,
• (D.3) Monitoring and evaluation of the project’s socio-economic impacts.

Union européenne/2025

Union européenne/2024