IVORY COASTS LONG-AWAITED TOLL BRIDGE OPENS TO TRAFFIC By AFP Abidjan (AFP) - Thousands of Ivorian pedestrians and motorists flocked to Abidjans new toll bridge on Sunday as the long-awaited crossing, which is expected to boost trade in the worlds top cocoa producer, opened to traffic. The 1.5 kilometre-long bridge is the third road link across the lagoon in Ivory Coasts economic capital. A flagship government project years in the making, it cost 270 million euros ($330 million) to build and links the posh northern suburb of Cocody to Marcory, where the seaside citys port is located. It is the first major infrastructure project since the former star French colony was ravaged by a low-lying civil war between 2002 and 2004 that sliced the country in half, wreaked havoc on the economy and dragged Ivory Coast into turmoil for a decade. Its a wonder of Abidjan, enthused Alexis Kouakou, 34. Its the biggest project in Ivory Coast of all time. Abidjan, which adjoins the Atlantic Ocean, is built around the Ebrie lagoon. It had only two bridges before and they were badly choked. Traffic in the city centre was often gridlocked as a result.
Posted on: Sun, 21 Dec 2014 21:02:37 +0000
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