Côte d’Ivoire is moving closer to the construction of Abidjan’s sixth bridge, a project estimated at 200 billion CFA francs ($330 million) that is expected to link Abatta with Koumassi and Port-Bouët and improve traffic flows across the Greater Abidjan area.

Socoprim is reportedly emerging as the preferred candidate to develop the project under a public-private partnership (PPP), according to information reported by Africa Intelligence. The company is understood to be ahead of Chinese construction group China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).

The planned infrastructure will connect Abatta, in the Cocody area, with Koumassi and Port-Bouët through a new road corridor designed to provide an alternative route across the southern part of Abidjan.

The project is expected to include two sections, Abatta–Koumassi and Koumassi–Port-Bouët, covering roughly 1.5 kilometres. The new connection is intended to ease congestion on existing roads and improve access between residential, commercial and transport hubs.

The bridge is also expected to strengthen links toward Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport in Port-Bouët, one of Côte d’Ivoire’s main gateways for international passengers and trade.

Socoprim already has experience operating major transport infrastructure in Abidjan. The company is the concessionaire of the Henri Konan Bédié Bridge, commonly known as Abidjan’s third bridge, which connects the Riviera area with Marcory under a PPP arrangement.

The sixth bridge project is part of Côte d’Ivoire’s broader effort to expand and modernise Abidjan’s road network as the economic capital continues to grow and traffic congestion becomes an increasing challenge.

The estimated investment of 200 billion CFA francs would make the project one of the major road infrastructure operations currently being considered in the Greater Abidjan area.

However, Socoprim’s position should not yet be interpreted as a final award. Publicly available official documents have not confirmed that the company has formally been awarded the contract, and the project remains subject to the completion of the PPP process.

If confirmed, the project would add another major crossing to Abidjan’s rapidly expanding transport network and create a new strategic link between the city’s eastern and southern districts.