Workers operate at the construction site of the Bambeto Roundabout Interchange Project in Conakry, capital of Guinea, on April 29, 2025. (Xinhua/Han Xu)
CONAKRY, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Amid the long lines of vehicles in the heart of Conakry, the capital of Guinea, the outline of a yellow-and-white interchange is becoming increasingly visible.
The three-level interchange, built by Power Construction Corporation of China (POWERCHINA), is scheduled to be fully operational by the end of May, marking the end of a historical lack of modern flyovers in the West African country.
The Bambeto Roundabout Interchange Project is located at the intersection of Prince Road and T2 Road. This area was once considered a major traffic bottleneck in Conakry; during peak hours, congestion was particularly severe, making daily travel a headache for residents.
Once the Bambeto interchange is open to traffic, it will effectively remove this bottleneck.
Gong Qiaoqi, manager of the project, told Xinhua that the interchange features an overpass, a ground-level roundabout, and an underpass. The design aims to simultaneously serve the city's inbound and outbound traffic, inter-regional travel, and quick access to the airport, greatly reducing traffic congestion in the area and surrounding districts.
Christophe Sandouno, a local doctor, considered this interchange as more than just a road project, saying it is a "catalyst" for urban development.
"Getting through Bambeto used to be a nightmare. We'd rather spend half an hour crossing by boat than be stuck in traffic for two hours. Once the interchange is fully open, travel time will be greatly reduced," Sandouno said.
Mohamed Cherif Diallo, local worker supervisor of the project team, expressed his pride in the project.
"The Bambeto interchange is very impressive -- it is the first three-level transportation facility in Guinea's history," he said. "We hope to see more excellent Chinese projects in Guinea in the future."
For the residents of Conakry who pass by the project daily, this interchange carries their hopes for a better future. Some shopkeepers volunteer to keep order around the construction site, taxi drivers familiarize themselves with new navigation routes, and children on their way home from school count the progress of the interchange construction.
As the morning light shines on the structure, the interchange, a symbol of the wisdom and efforts of both Chinese and Guinean builders, presents a new silhouette on the city skyline. Once fully open, it will not only optimize Conakry's transportation layout, but also serve as a vivid example of a three-dimensional solution for urban road improvement and development in African countries.
Workers operate at the construction site of the Bambeto Roundabout Interchange Project in Conakry, capital of Guinea, on April 29, 2025. (Xinhua/Han Xu)
A worker operates at the construction site of the Bambeto Roundabout Interchange Project in Conakry, capital of Guinea, on April 29, 2025. (Xinhua/Han Xu)
An aerial drone photo taken on May 1, 2025 shows the construction site of the Bambeto Roundabout Interchange Project in Conakry, capital of Guinea. (Power Construction Corporation of China/Handout via Xinhua)
An aerial drone photo taken on May 1, 2025 shows the construction site of the Bambeto Roundabout Interchange Project in Conakry, capital of Guinea. (Power Construction Corporation of China/Handout via Xinhua)
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