[Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games] Mobility: What's changing for traffic, heavy goods vehicles and public transport

With 48 hours to go before the historic opening of the Youth Olympic Games in Senegal, security and judicial authorities are deploying an impressive security and mobility apparatus. With nearly 15,000 members of the defense and security forces mobilized, designated Olympic lanes on the toll highway, strategic access restrictions in Diamniadio, Dakar, and Saly, as well as a targeted ban on heavy goods vehicles, the government intends to guarantee the smooth flow of delegations and the safety of the 50,000 spectators expected for the opening ceremony on Saturday, October 31.

Nearly 15,000 members of the defense and security forces will be mobilized during the event, scheduled from October 31 to November 13. This was announced by Colonel Samba Diallo, head of the National Gendarmerie's Mobility Support Center and chairman of the Youth Olympic Games' Transportation and Traffic Commission, during a press conference dedicated to traffic and security measures. "In total, we have nearly 15,000 defense and security forces committed to the Games," he stated. Specifically, the National Police plans to deploy nearly 5,000 officers, as will the National Gendarmerie. The National Fire Brigade (BNSP) will mobilize more than 2,000 personnel, while the Army will deploy between 2,000 and 3,000, according to estimates provided by the commission chairman.

Furthermore, this mobilization is accompanied by a plan to ease traffic congestion between Dakar, Diamniadio, and Saly. According to the mobility guide published for the Youth Olympic Games by the Ministry of Land and Air Transport, through the Dakar Youth Olympic Games 2026 Mobility Committee, 166 traffic control measures have been adopted. Fourteen intersections have also been classified as having a critical or high risk level.

In Dakar, several sites will undergo specific adjustments, including the area around the Olympic Swimming Pool, the Tour de l'Œuf, and the Iba-Mar-Diop complex. The Corniche Ouest will also experience temporary closures. According to the official schedule, it will be closed on November 7, 8, and 10, from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Motorists must follow the marked detours and comply with the signage in place.

In Saly, restrictions will be tailored to the triathlon and cycling events. The plan includes routes reserved or closed to certain categories of users, speed limits on detours, and park-and-ride facilities to facilitate public access. Colonel Samba Diallo specified that local decrees have been issued to direct traffic, particularly on the Ngaparou-Saly road. Authorities emphasize the temporary and variable nature of these measures, which will change depending on the venue, the competitions, and the time of day.

In Diamniadio, the highway is under restrictions for the opening ceremony

It is around the Abdoulaye-Wade stadium in Diamniadio, where approximately 50,000 participants are expected, that the measures will be particularly visible on Saturday, October 31, the day of the opening ceremony. To manage these massive crowds, access to the stadium, vehicle routes, and pedestrian walkways have been strictly divided into sectors.

Colonel Samba Diallo specified that exceptional restrictions will be applied to the toll highway, in accordance with a decree issued by the governor of the Dakar region. On a designated section, the left lane will be reserved for official delegations, accredited vehicles of the Youth Olympic Games Organizing Committee (COJOJ), defense and security forces, and emergency services. This measure will be in effect from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and then in the AIBD-Dakar direction from 7:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Exit 11 of the highway, serving the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium, will be exclusively reserved for authorized vehicles in both directions, from 7:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Spectators coming from Dakar should use the right-hand lanes and take exits 10 or 12. From exit 10, they can access the Bargny road, National Route 1, and the Diamniadio overpass. Another option is to take the Senico road, which has been improved to facilitate access to the parking areas.

Users arriving from other regions will use exit 12 and National Route 2. In both cases, the general public will be directed to designated parking areas. Additional parking spaces are reserved for participants in the "Youth in Play" program, particularly within the ministerial buildings and on the designated central reservation.

The use of private vehicles remains strongly discouraged. Motorists must submit to police checkpoints near ministerial buildings and follow the officers' instructions to access parking areas.

Heavy goods vehicles are also affected

Goods transport vehicles will also be subject to targeted restrictions. Trucks with a gross vehicle weight exceeding 3.5 tonnes will be prohibited from using the toll highway from 7:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on opening day. Their passage will also be prohibited on the road linking Rufisque to Diamniadio via the bridge from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., as well as on the national road between Rufisque and Sébikotane from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

To ease traffic congestion, exit 8 bis, located before exit 9, will be open on Friday, October 30th and Saturday, October 31st. The plan includes maintaining lanes for motorists not attending the ceremony, who will be able to continue using the right-hand lanes, although some delays are still expected.

Aware of the impending disruptions, Colonel Samba Diallo urges users to plan ahead: "Those planning to use the highway or travel should do so as early as possible, ideally starting Friday, or limit non-essential travel as much as possible."

An Olympic route and emergency response capabilities

Beyond preventative restrictions, a contingency plan has been drawn up to address any incident or breakdown that could paralyze access. The Olympic lane will allow traffic flow to be maintained in the event of a major accident on the highway. "This Olympic lane will allow us, even in the event of an accident on the highway, to maintain traffic flow as quickly as possible because it remains completely open," explained Colonel Samba Diallo.

Personnel and lifting equipment will be pre-positioned at key locations, particularly along dedicated bus lanes. The Police, the Gendarmerie, and the BNSP (National Fire Brigade) will have towing equipment available to immediately remove any obstacles.

The overall objective of the mobility guide is to separate flows (pedestrians, accredited vehicles, shuttles and general traffic), to give priority to public transport and to ensure the safety of people through strict signage and the permanent maintenance of emergency routes.

Public transport is the preferred option.

To reduce traffic congestion around the venues, the plan relies primarily on public transportation. The guide recommends the Regional Express Train (TER), the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), the Dakar Dem Dikk network, AFTU buses, as well as accredited shuttles and taxis. The Youth Olympic Games shuttles will provide service from eight departure points to twelve competition venues, from 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., with more frequent service on high-traffic routes.

In Diamniadio, spectators are advised to go to the TER train station before taking the shuttle buses. Marked pedestrian walkways will connect the stations and parking areas to the Abdoulaye-Wade stadium. The lanes reserved for ambulances and firefighters will remain closed.

The central management of the network will be handled by the Transport Operation Center (TROC), located at the Cetud Urban Mobility Management Center in Grand Médine. This unit will monitor traffic in real time and coordinate interventions in direct contact with the Cojoj operational center.