Lomé Roads and Various Networks in Togo: EBOMAF renews Boulevard du 13-Janvier

The expertise of the Burkinabe construction and public works company, EBOMAF SA, so impressed the Togolese government that it decided to establish a partnership with the company, promoting both West African integration and sub-regional expertise. It is within this framework of mutual trust, established in September 2010 in Dapaong, that the contract for one of the largest urban projects in the city of Lomé was awarded.

This project involves the renovation, realignment, and widening of Boulevard du 13-Janvier, as well as the paving of the Agoè BKS-Carrefour Caméléon-Limousine-Adidoadin-Camp d’Adidogomè road. The work was launched on Tuesday, January 18, 2011, in the presence of several high-ranking officials, including the Head of Government, Gilbert Fossoun Houngbo.

The Togolese capital, Lomé, is embarking on a major road and infrastructure project to give itself a facelift. The municipality and the government are combining their efforts to address the significant delays in road construction and paving, as well as stormwater drainage. In this urban renewal initiative, the Togolese authorities have entrusted the Burkinabe group, EBOMAF SA, with the rehabilitation, reinforcement, and drainage of Boulevard du 13-Janvier and the paving of the Agoè BKS-Carrefour Caméléon-Limousine-Adidoadin-Camp d’Adidogomè road.

The execution of these two projects is estimated at twenty (20) billion CFA francs and is expected to take twelve (12) months, the completion deadline. The work, entirely managed by the Burkinabe company, is under the control and supervision of the Malian and Togolese consulting consortium GTAH/DECO. “This international tender, which EBOMAF SA has once again won in Togo, is part of our vision to capture market share beyond national borders.

At the crossroads of giving and receiving, driven by globalization and sub-regional markets, Burkina Faso can gain a competitive edge by focusing on high-quality, competitive services and cutting-edge solutions such as construction and public works. This is the dynamic we strive to instill in our company every day: a consistent and unwavering commitment to performance and quality,” notes Mahamadou Bonkoungou, Chairman and CEO of the EBOMAF SA Group. Indeed, Togo now represents the expression of the sub-regional ambition of this Burkinabe company operating in the fields of civil engineering (roads, bridges, sanitation), hydraulics (hydro-agricultural development), building construction (construction and rehabilitation), and general trade (import of construction equipment, trucks, agricultural tractors, and sale of building materials and supplies). After Dapaong in the North and Kara in the Center, EBOMAF SA has now arrived in Lomé in the South to undertake major road infrastructure projects.

From the very start of construction on Tuesday, January 18, EBOMAF SA's operations were deployed along the entire length of Boulevard du 13-Janvier.

The first project, concerning Boulevard du 13-Janvier, exemplifies the Togolese authorities' ambitions for urban modernization. They spared no expense in clearing residents and other unauthorized occupants from this thoroughfare encircling the old city to allow for the swift execution of the works. "This road is of great importance to the Togolese capital. The Boulevard will be rehabilitated to accommodate a three-lane road on each side. Public works companies must therefore be able to operate. Many small businesses that were located along the roadside never received permits," explained a municipal representative after the three-month ultimatum from local elected officials expired.

For ambitious projects, a reputable company is needed.

The Boulevard du 13-Janvier construction project aims to improve urban traffic flow and enhance the environment in the city center. The first 5.2-kilometer section of road to be paved begins at the intersection of the former presidential palace and Boulevard de la République, and ends at the start of Boulevard du Mono. The project also includes the construction of a roundabout, the creation of central medians and drainage channels for rainwater runoff, as well as paving the developed area. EBOMAF SA is also responsible for the public lighting, horizontal and vertical signage, the relocation of utility lines, the construction of intersections, and the beginnings of side streets.

The second project under its purview involves paving a 6.465-kilometer stretch: the Agoè Nyévé urban road and a cross road connecting it to another, a branch of National Highway No. 1 (Lomé-Atakpamé) and the Adidogomè branch of National Highway No. 5 (Lomé-Kpalimé), passing through the towns of BKS, Caméléon Limousine, Adidoadin, and Avédji. “Once completed, these projects will truly improve and transform the face of Lomé. There is no doubt that the company entrusted with this task will meet this urban development challenge. We had heard about its expertise in this field, both in Burkina Faso and currently in northern Togo.

A simple glance at the equipment deployed for the start of the work is reassuring,” says Yvon Ekué, a young student. True to its approach of empowering each construction site, the Burkinabé company has already deployed an armada of technicians and equipment in the Togolese capital to ensure the success of this new venture.

Through these two major urban projects, the government of Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé is demonstrating its commitment to implementing the sanitation policy for the city of Lomé, particularly regarding rainwater drainage, using covered gutters. The ongoing works are part of a broader process to renovate the capital's roads and various utility networks. "The Boulevard's drainage will be fully ensured from end to end by reinforced concrete gutters and culverts of substantial dimensions to allow for the efficient evacuation of rainwater towards the lagoon and the sea. Horizontal and vertical signage, as well as public lighting, will be completely updated to current standards for greater user safety," emphasized Kanfitine Tchédé Issa, Director General of Public Works. He remains confident that this challenge will be easily met by EBOMAF SA given that this company has already proven its expertise in the field of sanitation in the development of the Commercial and Administrative Activities Zone (ZACA). "The challenges are certainly enormous but our company is very experienced in carrying out these types of works brilliantly," assures Jean-Claude Roche, Technical Director of EBOMAF SA. In terms of figures, the work on Boulevard du 13-Janvier in Lomé includes 20,900 meters of curb, 60,600 square meters of paving, 108,000 square meters of roadway, 10,000 meters of gutters covered with slabs, 350 meters of culverts, 35,000 linear meters of white painted lines, 220 signs, 10 traffic lights, and 150 two-arm lampposts installed in the median strip.

Total confidence in Burkinabe expertise

Through Togo, the EBOMAF Group is confidently pursuing its sub-regional expansion. While awaiting the successful outcome of tenders in which it participated in Benin and Niger, the hallmark of this leading Burkinabe construction company is making a strong impression in the main cities (Dapaong, Kara, Lomé, etc.) of President Faure Gnassingbé's country, following fiercely contested international competitions. "This is my modest contribution to my country's international standing and to mobilizing resources to better participate in its development," explains CEO Mahamadou Bonkoungou. In hydraulic, hydro-agricultural, real estate, and road projects, the pride of expertise from the "Land of Upright Men" is expressed with admiration.

The primacy of know-how, the commitment to quality, and the pursuit of excellence have fostered a privileged partnership with the Togolese government. “The choice of EBOMAF in Togo is far from arbitrary,” declared Tchandja Andjo, Minister of Public Works, on September 1, 2010, at the launch of the Dapaong-Burkina Faso border construction project. Such clarification is necessary given that the contracts secured by the Burkinabe company resulted from a meticulous selection process carried out by Togolese technical services, under the supervision of funding agencies, among leading construction and public works companies from diverse backgrounds.

The awarding of these two major urban projects to the Burkinabe construction and public works company, EBOMAF SA, confirms its ability to compete on a major scale. The technical specifications and configurations of the structures to be built demonstrate both its financial and material capabilities, as well as its technical and human skills… In short, the real and compelling strengths of any ambitious undertaking: the experience and expertise upon which Burkinabe companies rely to carry out such demanding and undeniably complex projects.

A.N.

The Two Urban Projects from a Technical Perspective

The redevelopment of Boulevard du 13-Janvier includes:

• A dual carriageway with two lanes in each direction, each 7 meters wide, from the intersection with Boulevard du Mono in Kodjoviacopé to the Banque Populaire, and with three lanes in each direction, each 10.5 meters wide, from the Banque Populaire to the intersection with Boulevard du Mono at the former La Pirogue Restaurant (now Restaurant Festival des Glaces). The dual carriageway will be bordered by drainage channels under the sidewalks, varying in width from 2 to 6 meters, with a central median of at least one meter.

• A dual carriageway with a width of 2 to 6 meters. • A 20 cm thick foundation layer of cement-stabilized silty sand, laid over the existing road surface which has been recycled.

• A 10 cm thick base course of asphalt concrete.

• A 5 m thick asphalt concrete overlay.

The following is planned for the Agoè Nyévé urban road:

• A dual carriageway with two lanes in each direction, each lane 7 m wide. The dual carriageway will be bordered by drainage channels under the sidewalks, each more than 2 meters wide, with a central median also more than 1 meter wide.

• A subgrade layer of silty sand

• A 20 cm thick foundation layer of cement-stabilized silty sand

• A 15 cm thick base course of 0/31.5 crushed gravel

• A 5 cm thick asphalt concrete surface course. All these works are carried out in addition to those related to drainage, the specifications of which are defined for each project.

Source: DGTP/Togo