Transport Infrastructure Activity. This Activity will focus on the rehabilitation of up to 32 kilometers of critical roadway and adjoining infrastructure in the central corridor of Abidjan to improve overall travel times, improve traffic movement through improved geometric alignment and signalization, improve road safety, and integrate multi-modal planning (coordination with alternative, corresponding or nearby transport systems), to reduce household transport costs and increase revenue for businesses. MCC Funding will support the following roadway-rehabilitation investments (each a “Transport Investment” and together the “Transport Investments”): Boulevard Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx x’Xxxxxxx (“Boulevard VGE”). – MCC Funding will be used to rehabilitate an approximate 9 km, six-lane section (three (3) lanes in each direction, plus two two-lane service-lanes) from Xxxxx Houphouët-Boigny Bridge to Akwaba Intersection, with the following improvements: o geometric reconfiguration to improve traffic fluidity of the roadway o improve up to 11 of 14 intersections of the section of the Boulevard VGE, including significant improvements to the Koumassi intersection either in the form of an elevated intersection or flyover with attendant structural modifications
Transport Infrastructure Activity. The benefits of the Transport Investments were modeled using the Highway Development and Management 4 (HDM-4) software. HDM-4 estimates economic benefits by calculating the consumer surplus accruing to road users as a result of vehicle operating cost savings and time savings due to road improvements. Vehicle operating cost savings were the primary benefit stream for each road segment. As roads deteriorate, they impose increasing wear and tear on vehicles, increasing their maintenance costs. By switching to high performance asphalt or concrete roads, the road surface deteriorates much more slowly, reducing vehicle maintenance costs over the counterfactual scenario. The time savings modeled through HDM-4 are also related to pavement deterioration. As road conditions grow worse in the counterfactual, road speeds continually decrease, adding travel time to each trip. Each Transport Investment improves and should extend the longevity of the road, reducing time losses. For the Boulevard VGE, an additional benefit of time savings was modeled outside of HDM-4 to capture the reduced congestion from improved intersections and signalization. Traffic was simulated at each intersection using Synchro, a traffic analysis, optimization, and simulation software, which results in estimates of with- and without-Project wait times at each intersection. This was converted to a benefit stream by multiplying the time saved by road users’ economic value of time. The Boulevard VGE intersections also contributed road safety benefits for drivers, passengers and pedestrians. By redesigning the intersections, limiting turns in certain spots and adding crosswalk islands, the activity will reduce road users’ exposure to danger. This is expected to lead to a reduction in the frequency of fatal accidents, accidents causing injury and accidents that cause property damage only. The CBA models include all investment costs, along with any costs associated with additional maintenance of the roads. The Transport Activity costs were based on the costs estimated in the multiyear financial plan. In addition, a cost-weighted share of Compact administration costs and M&E costs were added to each CBA model. Additional maintenance costs were estimated based on routine maintenance costs compared against maintenance costs incurred under the counterfactual scenario. While vehicle operating costs and time savings are the immediate microeconomic benefits of the Project, the Project will also contribute to ...
