AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT FUND ’ S REGIONAL INTEGRATION PRIORITY
SENEGAMBIA BRIDGE
The construction of the Senegambia bridge has brought reliable , affordable transport services to The Gambia and Senegal . It is transforming the lives of many people in these two West African countries , including a rural population of 900,000 . It is also a boon to the region ’ s freight-related companies .
Since the bridge ’ s completion , traffic flows much more freely between the northern and southern parts of The Gambia and Senegal , and along the Trans-West African Highway Corridor in the Economic Community of West African States ( ECOWAS ) bloc .
Improved infrastructure connections like this are uniting isolated communities and regions , including those experiencing fragility . They have linked regional markets , and removed longtime barriers to regional trade . Traders now spend less time transporting produce . Farmers now experience fewer post-harvest losses , and consumers enjoy lower prices of products and services . Women traders can sell their produce and other provisions at a profit , while more young people are attending school and visiting sports facilities .
50 Years I African Development Fund 15