2.3 Benin Road Network
Distance Matrix Road Security Weighbridges and Axle Load Limits
Road transport is the main mode of transport in Benin, and Benin’s geographical position makes it a main corridor to other West African countries (including Niger and Burkina Faso). The Ministry of Transport indicated that the national road network included about 16,000 km in the country.
The transport department indicated that over the last 15 years there had been approximately a 10-11% increase per year of traffic on asphalted roads and about 6-7% on non-asphalted roads.
Approximately 11% of the primary roads in Benin are asphalted or paved. The paved stretch can be mostly found in the southern region (Zou, Littoral and Plateau) and the principal towns. On the primary roads, the toll gates fees are applied and vary progressively from 150 XOF to 500 XOF. Secondary roads make up around 33% and consist of lateral and gravel roads. There are different construction projects that the government intends to launch with the support of development partners.
The road projects contain a portfolio of 29 priorities for rehabilitation, modernisation and extensions of the road network in the period 2016-2021, and the constructions of Hilaconji / Sanvéecondji Juxtaposed Control Stations for the period of 2016-2018 (Source: Ministry of Public Works and Transport website).
During the rainy season from mid-September to mid-November, muddy roads often become impassable. Transporters are forced to deploy accommodated lighter trucks with 4-wheel drive. Full spare tires and other useful safety equipments are required. Most of the rural roads require other types of lighter vehicles (moto tricycles and 2-wheels are often used). There are old bridges on the rivers in places and the crossings of some rivers becomes almost impossible. Roads being cut, or flooding, is frequent, and canoes are used to reach the villages along the rivers.
The General Directorate of Land Transport is a technical structure of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport. In this capacity, it is responsible for the regulation of road and rail transport, the issuance and control of travel documents, transport authorizations and the coordination of road freight.
For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Benin Government Contact List
Distance Matrix
Distances from Capital City to Major Towns (km)
Cotonou Porto Novo Parakou Abomey Calavi Bohicon Djougou Kandi Natitingou
Cotonou 41,9 427 14,4 125 507 633 585
Porto Novo 41,9 436 53,7 150 529 651 607
Parakou 427 436 401 291 135 216 213
Abomey Calavi 14,4 53,7 401 113 494 616 572
Page 1 Bohicon 125 150 291 113 383 505 461
Djougou 507 529 135 494 383 280 78,2
Kandi 633 651 216 616 505 280 252
Natitingou 585 607 213 572 461 78,2 252
Road Security
Road security was poor in previous years due to the road conditions and absence of proper regulations of road safety implementation. In some regions, armed robberies might occur on certain roads, particularly at night. Recently, however, the government took an excellent initiative to improve the roads security and safety by deploying mobile police to different levels.
Weighbridges and Axle Load Limits
There are four weighbridges at the Port Autonomous of Cotonou, installed at the trucks exit gates and the terminals for good exportations according to the standard norms of Verify Gross Mass (VGM).
Axle load limits
Truck with 2 axles 18 mt
Truck with 3 axles 26 mt
Truck with 4 axles 31 mt
Semi-trailer with 3 axles 30 mt
Semi-trailer with 4 axles 38 mt
Semi-trailer with 5 axles 43 mt
Semi-trailer with 6 axles 51 mt
Truck & drawbar trailer with 4 axles 38 mt
Truck & drawbar trailer with 5 axles 46 mt
Truck & drawbar trailer with 6 axles 51 mt
Truck & drawbar trailer with 7 axles 51 mt
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