• The DRC government plans a 3.5-km, 2x2-lane urban viaduct in western Kinshasa to reduce chronic congestion.
• The project targets key bottlenecks, including the Rocade Nord-Ouest and Matadi road corridors.
• Authorities have not yet disclosed the project timeline or financing structure.

The government is considering the construction of an urban viaduct known as the “Baie de Ngaliema” in Kinshasa. Infrastructure and Public Works Minister John Banza Lunda presented the project during the Council of Ministers meeting on Friday, April 10, and the cabinet acknowledged the plan for information.

According to the official report, the infrastructure will address persistent congestion affecting several major roads, particularly those linking peripheral areas to the city center.

The project  concerns the construction of a 3.5-kilometer viaduct with a dual two-lane configuration. Authorities expect the structure to improve traffic flow in the western part of the city.

The viaduct will help decongest the Rocade Nord-Ouest and Matadi road (avenue de la Montagne), two corridors that experience regular peak-hour saturation. In addition, the project will bypass heavily congested zones such as Kintambo-Magasin and the Kintambo–Boulevard Mondjiba–Socimat axis.

According to details presented to the Council, the route will start from Avenue du Tourisme near Hôpital de la Rive, cross the Chanic area, and connect to Boulevard Tshiatshi de l’hôtel Pullman.

Authorities have designed the structure as an urban viaduct with interchanges and controlled access ramps. Engineers have set a reference speed between 60 and 80 km/h. Part of the route will run along the border to optimize traffic flows and ensure urban continuity.

The project forms part of a wider effort to modernize road infrastructure in Kinshasa, where mobility constraints remain acute.

In 2025, the government disbursed $40 million to rehabilitate around 30 kilometers of roads, complementing existing financing for nearly 115 kilometers of urban roads. In August of the same year, authorities announced an additional $51 million to accelerate several projects in the capital.

At this stage, the Baie de Ngaliema viaduct remains at the presentation phase. Authorities have not yet specified the implementation schedule or financing modalities.

Ronsard Luabeya (Bankable)