Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games: Regulated traffic on October 31st

In preparation for the opening ceremony of the Youth Olympic Games (YOG), scheduled for October 31st at the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium in Diamniadio, the Governor of Dakar has implemented temporary traffic, parking, and security measures. These restrictions primarily affect the Autoroute de l'Avenir (Highway of the Future), access to the stadium, and several other roads in the region.

According to the governor's decree dated October 20, the left lane of the Avenir highway, on the Patte d'Oie – Blaise Diagne International Airport (AIBD) section, will be reserved for Olympic traffic. This measure will be in effect from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. in both directions: Dakar – Diamniadio Urban Center and AIBD – Diamniadio Urban Center. From 7:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., Olympic traffic will be managed in the opposite directions.

Exit 11, which serves the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium, will be reserved exclusively for vehicles displaying a Youth Olympic Games Organizing Committee (COJOJ) sticker from 7:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Within the security perimeters of the Diamniadio venues, only accredited vehicles and public transportation dedicated to the Games will be permitted. Spectators must use the shuttle buses or designated pedestrian walkways.

Designated routes for spectators

To facilitate access to the stadium, exits 10 and 12 of the highway will remain open to general traffic. Spectators coming from Dakar can use one of these exits before reaching the stadium via the overpass at the Diamniadio Regional Express Train (TER) station.

Those coming from other regions should exit at junction 12 and take National Route 2 (RN2) to the overpass. Motorists not attending the ceremony are advised to use the rightmost lanes of the motorway.

Heavy goods vehicles subject to restrictions

Except for local deliveries, goods transport vehicles with a maximum authorized weight exceeding 3.5 t will be prohibited from circulating.

On the toll highway, between Patte d'Oie and Sébikhotane, the ban will apply in both directions from 7 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. It will also apply to the bridge linking Rufisque to Keur Ndiaye Lo, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., as well as the national road no. 1, between Rufisque and Sébikhotane, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Emergency corridors kept clear

In order to ensure the rapid intervention of the emergency services, the corridors located at exits no. 10, 11 and 12, as well as the emergency and breakdown routes, must remain clear.

The Société d'exploitation de la concession de l'autoroute de l'Avenir (SECAA), in coordination with the Conseil Exécutif des transports urbains durables (CETUD), the COJOJ, the AGEROUTE and the defence and security forces, is responsible for ensuring the marking, temporary signage and information for users.