2.3 Chad Road Network
National Road Network Rural network Distance Matrix Time Travel Matrix Road Security Weighbridges Axle Load Limits Bridges Road Class Statistics of the existing roads in Chad Surface Conditions Rain Barriers Ouadis (drifts)
Page 1 Page 2 For information on Chad Road Network contact details, please see the following link:
4.1 Chad Government Contact List
Located in Central Africa at an average altitude of 200 meters, Chad is a large Sahelian country stretching over 2,000 km from north to south and 1,000 km from east to west, covering an area of 1,284 .000 km².
Totally landlocked, it shares 5,676 km of borders with 6 bordering countries, including:
• 1,055 km to the north with Libya along an almost straight line
• 1,360 km to the east with Sudan.
• 1,197 km to the south with the Central African Republic.
• 889 km to the southwest with Nigeria (89 km of common territorial waterscon Lake Chad) and Cameroon (800 km).
• 1,175 km to the west with Niger
Chad's road network, both paved and unpaved, is very poorly rarely maintained. According to official road authorities 6000 km of asphalted roads are planned of which a total of 2,086 km are paved and open to the traffic at end of 2014. A 380-km construction project is underway.
4 large asphalting projects planned since 2010 are ongoing and constructions are realized by one Chinese enterprise and Arab Contractor an Egyptian enterprise.
Moundou Doba – Koumra (190 km); Massaget – Massakory (72 km) Bokoro – Arboutchatak (65 km); Abeche – Am Himede – Oul Hadjer – Mongo.
Summary of Role and Services:
Inventory of the road rehabilitation; Plannification of new roads construction; Technical follow up road under contruction; Maintenance of the realized roads.
Page 3 National Road Network
As a reminder, Chad suffers from poor transport in the country and to foreign markets. During the rainy season, internal roads become impassable and the economy slows to near-idle. There are no ports or rail system in the country. Most rivers flow, but intermittently. In September and October, the Logone is navigable between N'Djamena and Moundou, and the Shari between N'Djamena and Sarh. The rivers cover 4,800 km of which 2,000 km are simply navigable all year round by small boats. The nearest port is located on the Atlantic Ocean in Douala, Cameroon at 1700 kilometers from N'Djamena. Two ancient land routes connect Chad to the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. The first, more than 3000 kilometers, through the difficult desert tracks, leads north to the port of Benghazi in Libya and the second, to the Red Sea via Sudan to Port Sudan, is 2,600 kilometers from Abéché and 3,350 kilometers kilometers from N'Djamena. The country's external traffic (import and export) is carried on the route of the road and rail from Douala to N'Djamena via N'Gaoundéré. Due to Nigeria's internal political difficulties, Nigeria's route has been intermittently closed to Chadian traffic, leaving open only the Cameroonian road to the surface of the traffic in and out of Chad that depends largely on Cameroon's rail system for the transport of Chadian exports and imports to and from the port of Douala.
Roads of all categories making up Chad's domestic road network total 40,000 km, including 25,000 km of roads of national or regional interest and 15,000 km of service roads of local interest.
The 25.000 km of roads of national or regional interest, placed under the management of the Ministry in charge of the infrastructures of the opening and the transport, were the subject of an exhaustive inventory in 1999 during the elaboration of the National Strategy of Transports (2000 - 2009). They understand:
6.200 km of roads constituting the national structuring network and broken down according to their practicability in National Permanent Network (RNP: 2.578 km) and in Seasonal National Network (RNS: 3.622 km) 18,800 km of roads constituting the Regional Road Network (RRR) linking the intermediate local authorities (region or department) to the national structuring network.
The 15,000 km of service roads of local interest have never been the subject of an exhaustive inventory. They include two networks:
The rural network, located upstream of the network of roads of national or regional interest, and consisting mainly of service roads of local communities; this network, which is not the responsibility of the Ministry responsible for infrastructure for opening and transport, is left to the initiative of local authorities and is not managed in an organized manner; The urban network made up of community roads in towns and villages, the management of which is the responsibility of the decentralized territorial communities, with technical and financial support from the State, especially for the implementation of major works.
Road density, like that of the population, varies greatly depending on the climatic zones, ranging from a density of 6.4 km / 1.000 km² in the Saharan zone to 27.2 in the Sahelian zone and 40.5 in the Sudanian zone. The national highway system includes paved roads and dirt roads. The dirt roads are distinguished by their level of development according to four technical standards: landscaped dirt road, rough dirt road, runway and natural terrain. Road counts are carried out twice a year on the national road network by the Road Maintenance Fund (FER) of the Ministry of Infrastructures for Access and Transport.
The road network in Chad is very poor. On a projection of 6000 km on the national map financed by European Development Fund (FED), 2082 km only were bitumen in late 2014. The rest of the network is either made by laterite, gravel or simply stabilized sand. To facilitate the use of these roads, profiling operations are often undertaken during the dry season. Except in some rare cases, the capitals of regions are connected by tracks that are only accessible during the dry season. It is important to note that 2,000 km of tracks realized in the Interior of the country are cut off by the Ouadis and remain inaccessible for a period of 1 to 3 months depending on the location. On these roads rains-barriers are erected to regulate the traffic after the rains.
Rural network
The transport of agricultural products from villages to rural markets is generally carried out by rudimentary means of transport (man, animal, cart, rickshaw, tote). The precariousness of the tracks means that passenger road traffic in rural areas is low and transport is carried out by traditional means. On developed trails, mixed motorized transport is generally applied. Rural transport in Chad is centered around weekly markets. In each space, there may be a village or village community that has a market every day of the week. Each market will serve a group of villages that will visit this market once a week. Rural communities are usually within 30 km of the nearest market and transport their goods as well as their goods using Intermediate Transport Vehicles (MIT) and porterage. Merchants use motorized vehicles to travel between different markets at different days of the week to buy the products. Daily markets can be more than 50 km apart. The abundance of products in the markets means that goods can be easily amalgamated for transport by motorized services. The relative proximity of the markets means that villagers often use ITMs to transport the village to the market. Traffic on rural roads is generally very low except on market days. It is also very seasonal with a peak during the harvest season.
LIST OF SECTIONS NATIONAL ROAD NETWORK:
Liaison Km
Réseau national permanent
N'Djamena - Djermaya 27
Djermaya - Dandi - Karal 89
N'gueli - Walia - Farcha 27
N'Djamena - Mandalia 49
Mandalia - Kalgoa 44
Kalgoa - Guelengdeng 63
Page 4 Guelengdeng - Bongor - Ere 159
Ere - Kelo 50
Kelo - Moundou (entrée) et Traversée de Moundou 116
Djermaya - Massaguet 46
Massaguet - N'Goura 125
N'Goura - Bokoro 104
Bokoro - Arboutchatak 65
Arboutchatak - Bitkine 78
Bitkine - Mongo 59
Mongo - Mangalme 129
Mangalmé - Oum Hadjer 111
Oum Hadjer - Abéché 146
Massaguet - Massakory 68
Moundou - Koutéré (Ftière Cam.) 118
N'Djamena - Dourbali 100
Moundou - Doba 100
Doba - Koumra 88
Bretelle de Bédjondo 11
Koumra - Sahr 110
Sarh - Banda - Maro - Frontière RCA 125
Guelengdeng - Mogo 149
Kelo-Pala 104
Pala - Frtière Cam. 122
Massakory - Bol 181
Abeche - Ftière Soudan 174
Abeche - Biltine 92
Aboudeia - Mongo 121
Réseau national saisonnier
Arada-Kalaït-Fada 372
Abeche - Am Zoer- Guéréda-Iriba-Tiné 295
Abeche - Goz Beida 211
Abou Deia - Am Timam 138
Ati - Mongo 154
Bitkine - Melfi 121
Page 5 Binder - Léré 53
Bokoro - N'Gama 61
Bongor - Ftière Cam. 7
Kélo - Gounou Gaya - Tikem 110
Djoumane - Laï -Gabri ngolo 108
Gabri ngolo - Doba 96
Ham - Fianga 72
Dourbali - Massenya 55
Fianga - Binder 85
Fianga - Pala 72
NGaboulo-Goundi 45
Goz Beida - Am Timan 208
Doba - Goré 100
Kelo - Laï 59
Kélo - Doher - Benoye -Moundou 125
Koumra - Moissala 74
Kouno - Nguere 96
Laï - Koumra 158
Mao - Mondo - N'Gouri 74
Mbaikoro - Gore - Békoninga 113
Mogo - Kouno 131
Ngoura - Ati - Oum Hadjer 405
Sahr - Banda 2574
Sahr - Kyabé 99
Ngouri - Mao 60
Aboudeia - Mangalmé 122
Amtiman - Haraze Mangueye 164
Kemdéré - Moïssala 127
Massakory - Moussoro 135
Distance Matrix
Distances from Capital City to Major Towns (km)
Ndjamena Ndjamena Ndjamena Ndjamena Ndjamena Ndjamena Ndjamena Ndjamena
450 Ati
900 Abeche
Page 6 515 Moundou
782 Sarh
572 Doba
235 Bongor
1100 Faya
525 Mongo
Time Travel Matrix
Travel Time from Capital City to Major Towns (Hours / Days)
Capital Ndjamena Ndjamena Ndjamena Ndjamena Ndjamena Ndjamena Ndjamena Ndjamena
5 hours Ati
1 day Abeche
6 hours Moundou
10 hours Sarh
7h15 Doba
2h30 Bongor
3 days Faya
6 hours Mongo
Road Security
According to UNDSS, road safety at the national level in the Republic of Chad is a serious matter.
Cases of car theft and banditry are common especially on unpaved road sections. Night driving should always be avoided; military escorts are mandatory on the eastern roads bordering Sudan and in the northern part of the country.
About road safety:
Many car accidents are recorded on the asphalted roads and on the rough roads in the East region. 75% of accidents are due to excessive speed, overloading old trucks and poor road conditions.
Weighbridges
On the asphalted roads in the southern part of the country, all bridges are built in concrete material. However, traffic on some of these bridges could be restricted for heavy trucks to respect the payload and the durability of the pave. Many new weighbridges are under construction on the main roads. In these roads, many other mobiles brigade’s weighbridge equipped with modern axle-scales are operated.
Maximum Authorized Load (PTAC): 32 tons maximum axle load are authorized. Size: width 2,5 m / height 4 m. this restriction is not always respected by any Chadian transporters
Before the multiplication of weighing stations, it was common for trucks to load as much as possible until 50 mt of cargo.
Now the maximum tonnage a truck can load is limited to 32 Mt. In case of none respect of the PTAC obligations, amends are imposed as follow:
Overweight > 5 tons an amend of 25,000 F CFA/ extra ton is paid; Overweight between 5 and 10 tons an amend of 50,000 F CFA/ extra ton is paid; Overweight > 10 tons an amend of 75,000 F CFA/ extra ton is paid.
Axle Load Limits
Vehicles in Chad should not exceed the following weight payload:
Simple axle: 13 T Double axel: 21 T Triple axel: 32 T
Page 7 Axle load limits LCA Country Transit Country
Truck with 2 axles Chad (21 Tons) Cameroon (21 tons)
Truck with 3 axles Chad (32 Tons) Cameroon (21 Tons)
Bridges
There are many bridges realized recently in southern and eastern part of Chad on the highways newly constructed.
Many bridges are built on the new routes to the South and East of the country. These bridges are well built according to international standards by renowned companies. These bridges can handle payloads trucks allowed in Chad (40 tons).
According to the General Director of Roads, the government is implementing a project pertaining to the construction of concrete bridges over the Ouadis having 100 meters of width and radiers on the Ouadis having 8 m large or less.
Location
Road Stretch Abeche - Mongo
Distance from origin 350 Km
Closest city Oum Hadjer
Dimensions
Length 40 Meters
Width 8 Meters
Height 7 Meters
Characteristics
Material Concrete
Road Surface Concrete
Condition Good
Capacity
Normal Capacity At least 40 MT
Estimated Capacity Considering Damage None
Road Class
Classification Administering Agency Network Length
National Roads asphalted Direction Generale des Routes 2082 km
National Roads none asphalted (gravel, laterite) Direction generale des Routes 7,480
Regional and departmental Roads (leveling sand) Regional authorities N/A
Rural Roads (grass and sandy) Local autorities N/A
Classification Road Description
Class: National Roads (asphalted) from Ndjamena to main 5 Towns: Abeche, Massakory, Bongor, Koutere, Sarh
Class: National Roads (Laterite) Southen region between main towns
Class: Regional Roads Pistes stabilazed with laterite and gravel between regional owns
Page 8 Class: Departmental Rods classified Pistes none stabilazed
Class: Rural Roads (Non-clasified) Road between villages sendy and sometimes on glass
Statistics of the existing roads in Chad
Routes bitumées 2,082
Routes en terre 5,398
Total 7,480
Surface Conditions
On a 6000 km projection, only 2082 km were asphalted by the end of 2014. The rest of the network is either laterite, gravel or simply stabilized sand. To facilitate the use of these roads, leveling operations are undertaken during the dry season. It should be noted that 2,000 km of trails in the interior of the country are cut by the wadis and remain inaccessible for a period of 1 to 3 months depending on the location. On these roads rain barriers are erected to regulate the traffic.
Rain Barriers
During the wet season, only paved roads remain passable. Traffic on unpaved roads may be restricted by rain barriers for some hours or days depending on the quantity of the rains and the type of vehicle passing the road. As a legal national decree defined by the Ministry of Infrastructures and Transport since 2008, according to 3 major criteria amongst others: road frequency, the condition of the road (muddy) and security reasons. Under the control of Gendarmerie forces, the Companies in charge of rain barrier are implementing a strict control for the respect of the rule at least 3 months. As an administrative public restrictions traffic must always respect the rain gates and waiting time if raining, however a special exemption can be according by the Ministry of Infrastructures and Transports in case of well justified humanitarian emergency.
The small cars restriction does not exceed 2 hours after the rains, trucks can therefore be stopped for many hours or days.
In case of violation of the rule, the following amends might be applied:
500.000 F CFA to be paid by the vehicle owner; Revocation of the driving license for the driver; Participation in the rehabilitation of the road section damaged by the vehicle
In Chad, the major road transport constraints are the various Ouadis that cut off many access roads in the Sahel area and particularly in the Eastern part of the country during the raining season. This phenomenon blocks all the access facilities for around 5 months from July to October.
Ouadis (drifts)
In Chad, the main constraints of road transport are the different wadis that cut many access roads in the Sahel region and especially in the eastern part of the country during the rainy season. This phenomenon blocks all access facilities for about 5 months from July to October. The Wadi is a torrent of water and mud that descends from the slopes and is released into a shallow wadi. The height of a Wadi (water and mud) can reach 2 to 3 meters.
This well-known phenomenon has led WFP to anticipate distribution by pre-positioning 3 to 5 months of food for storage in distribution areas before the start of the rainy season.
Before that the Government took the decision to implement the barriers of rain and construct concrete bridges, the Ouadis have caused much damages in Chad. On some most famous Ouadis namely Moutarare and Amdout, in the East between Oum Hadjer and Abeche area, the government has erected bridges to lift the isolation of this region.
Table below gives position of Ouadis which have created a lot of bottlenecks and loss to the transportors.
Location Name of Ouadi Distance from Departure Point / KM Observations
Bokoro Ban-Bang 10 Bridge is on construction
Moussoro Amsilep 1 and 2 18 and 38 A big obstacle during wed season
Abeche to Oum Hadjer Disko 57 Bridge is done
Abeche to Oum Hadjer Kao 94 Bridge is done
Abeche to Farchana Chope 22 Still active
Abeche to Farchana Moura 38 Still active
Page 9 Farchana to Adre Farcha 19 Still active
Farchana to Adre Not known 27 Still active
Page 10