Ways to future-proof the roads of Africa
• Investment, collaboration, capacity building and focus on sustainability will prepare the continent for a more prosperous future
Africa’s road infrastructure plays a vital role in the continent’s day-to-day economic and commercial activities, particularly in intratrade activities as far as the movement of goods, services and people is concerned.
As the continent’s population grows — estimated to reach 2.5-billion by 2050
— so does the need for efficient and sustainable transportation networks.
To meet these demands sustainably for the long term, it is essential that the continent begins to adopt strategies and methods that future-proof its road infrastructure network, as part of an integrated and multimodal transportation system.
In this case, future-proofing infrastructure entails adopting design, planning, construction and even financing methods that can adapt and evolve with changing needs and advancements in the sector.
To ensure its roads remain functional and efficient for years to come, the continent’s road sector must incorporate factors such as population growth, economic development, evolving road user needs, mobility and technological advancements, funding models, and climate change impact into the planning, designing and construction process of road infrastructure.
One of the main challenges in future-proofing Africa’s road infrastructure is the continent’s rapid population growth. The UN estimates that Africa’s population is expected to nearly double by 2050, reaching 2.5-billion people. A 2022 Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) report projects that seven African cities will join the list of the world’s megacities by 2050, with populations of 10-million or more people.
Already, this population growth is beginning to place immense pressure on existing transportation networks, and, if not carefully planned for, may lead to major congestion on roads and reduced road transport systems efficiency for the continent and its megacities (poor and unsustainable road network levels of service).
Another contributing factor is the reality that most African countries have competing socioeconomic needs, which are all meant to be addressed with the limited financial resources from their respective national fiscus, which poses a serious challenge to the funding of capital and operational expenditure on the development of a road infrastructure network.
It is worth noting, though, that many African countries have in recent years embarked on major road decongestion projects to meet changing needs for road usage due to population increases. In Zambia, the government in 2018 launched a now completed $290m Lusaka decongestion project.
Jointly funded by Exim Bank of India and the Zambian government, the project was aimed at improving and widening the capital city’s 65.6km of roads, creating bidirectional public transport lanes and enhancing some key road junctions through the construction of 26km of flyovers and bypasses.
Elsewhere, through a combined African Development Bank (AfDB) and African Development Fund funding agreement of $288m, the Ugandan government launched the 121km Kampala City Roads Rehabilitation Project.
Expected to be completed before the end of 2026, the project is aimed at tackling the capital city’s traffic congestion challenge through general improvement of the road network, including upgrading traffic junctions and storm water drainage enhancements.
A 2022 Economic Commission for Africa study projects that when the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) becomes fully operational, demand for transport to support intra-Africa trade will significantly increase, requiring 1,844,000 trucks for bulk cargo and 248,000 trucks for container cargo by 2030.
In addition, full implementation of the AfCFTA is projected to double road freight from 201-million tonnes in 2019 to 403-million tonnes by 2030. This reality makes urgent the need for African countries to invest in quality, reliable, sustainable and broadened transport infrastructure beyond just roads, continentwide.
In addition to population growth, and with the continent’s accelerated economic and commercial activities putting a strain on its road infrastructure, there is an opportunity for African governments and public sector transport players to consider investing more in alternative transport means best suited for major cargo haulage and shipping such as railways or waterbody transport systems.
With many African countries having access to major coastal fronts, there is an opportunity to derive maximum value from the continent’s coastal countries for the onward movement of goods into inland countries so roads are not over-capacitated and, in the process, run down if they remain the major line for Africa’s logistics and supply chain infrastructure.
It is therefore encouraging that several non-roads projects are already being spearheaded, such as the recently announced $250m Lobito Corridor Railway line project, which when completed will run from Angola’s Atlantic coastal city of Lobito into the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) copper belt and, ultimately, link into Zambia. There are future plans to extend the line all the way into the Indian Ocean through Tanzania.
In summary, increased trade and movement of goods not only necessitates the expansion of road networks but broadly the development of efficient multi-modal transportation systems.
Because governments or public road sector bodies alone cannot single-handedly manage sustainable road infrastructure projects due to the capitalintensive nature of such projects, different mechanisms can be adopted in road infrastructure investments and financing, particularly longterm projects. Such different funding models are usually attractive to and offer opportunities for private sector players to get involved in major road infrastructure projects, both at the domestic and international level.
One commonly used road project delivery method is the build-operate-transfer or buildown-operate-transfer mechanism, whereby a private sector player is offered a concession by a government or public sector agency to finance, design, construct, own and operate the road infrastructure project for an agreed time until their investment has matured, at which point the infrastructure is handed to a government or public sector player.
One example of such projects is Kenya’s Nairobi Expressway, a partnership between the government of
Kenya and the China Roads and Bridge Corporation, a Chinese state-owned company. Operational since July 2022, the 27km four-lane dual carriageway is part of East Africa’s northern corridor route that accounts for the passage of 85% of cargo destined for landlocked neighbouring countries, including Uganda, Rwanda, the DRC and South Sudan.
In addition to easing traffic flow in Kenya’s capital, the new expressway has improved connectivity for the transportation of goods, services and people between Nairobi and the entire northern corridor route. The concession agreement is designed such that the China Roads and Bridge Corporation, which financed and constructed the expressway, will operate and maintain it for 27 years, after which it will be handed over to the Kenya National Highways Authority.
Models such as the buildoperate-transfer have been effective in attracting private sector players into capitalintensive road infrastructure projects on the continent.
These kinds of models and many others should offer the right incentives as part of motivating the private sector in pursuit of future-proofed financing for road infrastructure for the long term.
Technological advancements will also play a crucial role in future-proofing Africa’s road infrastructure.
By adopting smart infrastructure solutions underpinned by technological advancements, Africa could leapfrog its traditional infrastructure development agenda. This is crucial because where they have been adopted and introduced, intelligent transportation systems have proven their ability to enhance road safety and improve traffic flow, thus reducing congestion on roads.
Examples of this type of technology include real-time traffic management systems, smart traffic lights, and automated tolling systems. It is clear that investing in such technology now would go a long way in equipping Africa’s roads sector to be prepared to handle the future demands of an increasingly digitised world.
Climate change is another critical factor to be considered in future-proofing Africa’s road infrastructure.
Whether it is Tropical Cyclone Freddy in Malawi, adverse El Nino weather in Kenya or the Akosomo flood disaster in Ghana, recent climactic events show that African countries are equally vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including increased rainfall, extreme weather events, and rising sea levels.
These changes pose risks to roads, as they lead to erosion, frequent flooding, and structural instability. Therefore, building climate-resilient infrastructure, such as reinforced road surfaces, adequate drainage systems, and elevated roadways, will be essential in preserving the longevity and functionality of Africa’s roads in the face of climate change.
From the perspective of climate change resilience, it is essential to prioritise sustainability in future-proofing Africa’s road infrastructure. This may include incorporating environmentally friendly practices, such as using recycled materials in construction and adopting energy-efficient technologies.
Additionally, implementing measures to reduce carbon emissions from transportation, such as promoting public transportation and, when possible, electric vehicles, will contribute to a greener and more sustainable road network.
Lastly, the development and incorporation of design methods that incorporate the forecasting of the effect of climate change during the planning and design of transportation systems will prove to be critical.
Collaboration and knowledge sharing among African countries will also be crucial in future-proofing road infrastructure. Experience and best practice from successful infrastructure projects in one country can be shared with others facing similar challenges.
This collaboration can lead to the adoption of common standards, joint ventures and shared technologies, ultimately improving the overall quality and efficiency of Africa’s road networks. Investing in capacity building and skills development could be another aspect of future-proofing Africa’s road infrastructure.
Training programmes and tailored workshops could enhance the technical knowledge and skills of road planners, engineers and maintenance workers.
This would in turn ensure that Africa has a skilled workforce to handle the complexities of modern road construction and maintenance techniques.
To successfully future-proof Africa’s road infrastructure, several strategies and approaches in the road sector will need to be adopted over time. However, to start with there is a need for increased investment in road construction and maintenance, generally.
It is essential that governments, road sector players — public or private
— prioritise investments in road infrastructure projects. Private sector participation through public-private partnerships can bring muchneeded additional expertise, resources, and efficiency to infrastructure projects.
By adopting some of the highlighted strategies and approaches, Africa will not only begin to shape a road infrastructure agenda that meets the needs of its growing population and drives the continent towards a prosperous future, but also build roads that are efficient, resilient and sustainable.
To achieve this requires increased investment and funding, collaboration, capacity building, and a focus on sustainability.
POPULATION GROWTH IS BEGINNING TO PLACE IMMENSE PRESSURE ON EXISTING TRANSPORTATION NETWORKS
MODELS SUCH AS THE BUILD-OPERATETRANSFER HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE IN ATTRACTING PRIVATE SECTOR PLAYERS