Roads and urban development: Abass Fall provides an update on construction projects in Dakar

Managing urban construction projects and improving the living conditions of residents remain top priorities for the Dakar municipality. On Wednesday, October 14, 2026, the Mayor of Dakar, Abass Fall, conducted an inspection tour of several key road and urban development projects in the municipalities of Grand Dakar, Biscuiterie, Fass, Gueule Tapée, and Colobane. Expressing satisfaction with the progress of the work, promoting local employment, and strongly criticizing the shortcomings caused by ONAS (National Sanitation Office), the mayor reaffirmed his commitment to delivering sustainable infrastructure.

Managing urban construction projects and addressing the concerns of Dakar's residents remain major challenges for local authorities. It is in this context that the Mayor of Dakar, Abass Fall, conducted a site visit on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, to several roadworks and urban development projects. Expressing satisfaction with the progress of the work, raising concerns related to the interventions of the National Sanitation Office of Senegal (ONAS), and calling for the preservation of public spaces, the mayor reaffirmed the municipality's commitment to improving the living conditions of the population.

The visit focused on two major axes: the Grand Dakar – Biscuiterie section on the one hand, and the Fass – Gueule Tapée – Colobane area on the other, two emblematic projects of the City's urban development policy conducted through its Urban Development Department (DDU).

At the end of the tour, the mayor welcomed the overall progress of the works while highlighting the difficulties encountered in their execution, particularly those related to coordination with other public structures involved in roadworks and sanitation.

Grand Dakar - Biscuiterie: A listed road, rehabilitated by the City of Dakar

The first site visited concerns a strategic road linking the municipalities of Grand Dakar and Biscuiterie. According to Abass Fall, this classified road, which initially fell under the jurisdiction of AGEROUTE (the national road agency), was taken over directly by the municipality after fruitful discussions with the relevant authority. "Given our role, which is to address the concerns of local residents, we asked AGEROUTE to allow us to take over this road," he explained.

The mayor praised the quality of the work carried out and congratulated the company in charge of the execution as well as the Urban Development Department (DDU), responsible for monitoring and controlling the construction site.

While the roadway is now fully open to traffic, work continues on the surrounding public space. The project includes the creation of a public garden, which is expected to be completed in approximately ten months. Regarding the roadworks themselves, the mayor indicated that the majority of the finishing touches should be completed within a month.

In Fass, Gueule-Tapée and Colobane: A Youth Olympic Games construction project delivered despite difficulties related to ONAS

The second leg of the tour took the municipal delegation to a major construction site as part of the preparations for the Youth Olympic Games (YOG). At this site, the mayor indicated that the majority of the work within the City of Dakar's boundaries had been completed according to schedule, with delivery set for October 15th.

However, according to the city's chief magistrate, some interventions remain pending due to recurring blockages attributed to the National Sanitation Office of Senegal (ONAS).

Abass Fall strongly deplored the repeated coordination problems with this state agency, which he accuses of delaying certain projects and subsequently damaging new infrastructure built by local authorities without repairing it. "ONAS needs to learn to respect the work done by local authorities, whether it's the city or the municipalities," he insisted.

The mayor of Dakar continued in a more impassioned tone: "ONAS is causing us enormous difficulties in everything we undertake in Dakar. Either there is a delay, or after delivery, ONAS comes back to tear everything down and repair nothing. This is a heartfelt cry that I wanted to express publicly," he declared, calling for urgent and structured consultation between local authorities and the sanitation company.

The mayor clarified that the remaining sections of the project are limited, but their completion depends directly on the prior intervention of ONAS. He also noted that other peripheral improvements, particularly the rehabilitation of certain sidewalks, fall under the purview of Ageroute.

The creation of local jobs and the high labor intensity are valued.

Beyond the physical infrastructure, Abass Fall emphasized the social and economic dimension of the municipal construction projects. He highlighted the strategic choice to use high-intensity labor (HIMO), particularly for the manual paving operations, which made it possible to mobilize and pay many young people from the neighborhoods along the route.

For him, municipal investments should not be limited to simply transforming the urban environment, but should serve as catalysts for employment and professional integration for Dakar's youth. In this regard, the mayor commended the KFE company for its rigorous approach, congratulating them on their technical performance and meticulous adherence to contractual deadlines.

An urgent appeal for the preservation of landscaped areas

Faced with the premature deterioration of certain urban developments, the mayor of Dakar has launched a solemn appeal to the mayors of the district municipalities and to the residents to ensure the safeguarding and maintenance of the delivered works.

Warning against the return of anarchic occupations of public roads and unsanitary conditions, he reminded everyone that the significant financial resources allocated by the community must be protected in order to benefit all citizens sustainably.

When questioned about the outlook for his roadmap, Abass Fall affirmed his commitment to maintaining a sustained pace of structural investments for the benefit of Dakar's residents. "As long as we are at the helm of the City of Dakar, we will maintain this momentum: working solely for the good of the people," he concluded, announcing at the same time the upcoming presentation of a comprehensive progress report on the actions undertaken since he took office.