To give a new face to the capital, the State of Senegal has launched, since the beginning of this year, the beautification work of the West Corniche of Dakar. A project on a pharaonic scale consisting of several works to be carried out over 24 months, for a total cost of 18 billion FCFA.
Entirely financed by the State of Senegal to the tune of 18 billion FCFA, this project has the main objective of making the cornice accessible on foot, giving an identity to the promenade of the cornice, making the cornice accessible by bike, protecting the cliffs and the coast against erosion, stabilizing and securing the course along the cornice, to plant vegetation all along the coast, to create a welcoming, qualitative and shaded spaces, to reorganize and optimize places and sports fields, to organize and secure access to the beach and to create complementary points of interest on the corniche.
The capital must be given a new lease of life. For this, the State has not skimped on the means. The project will thus be structured around five parts. Those of Koussoum, Soumbédioune, the University, Fann and Ouakam. The Koussoum part will consist of a breakwater, a spike, a re-silting of the beach for 40 meters, a rock park, a pendulum, a staircase (access to the new beach), a car park, a landscaped park with benches and sidewalks.
The director-general of Agetip explains: “In the past, this part of the Corniche housed public buildings such as the Isaac Foster School or Camp Lat Dior. Due to coastal erosion due to the advance of the sea, this part of Dakar is threatened with extinction. For this reason, the maritime protection works will be important with the creation of a breakwater at sea and a spike at the Millennium Gate. These structures will retain the sands brought by the sea and a new beach of more than 40 meters wide will be created. Thanks to this device, the embankments are thus consolidated and can be vegetated. This coastline so dear to Dakar residents will then be able to receive more athletes and bathers. At the top of the embankment ridge, a space of more than 5,000 m² of gardens will be created. There will also be pedestrian accesses and paths for the promenade and access to the new beach.”
As for the Soumbédioune sequence, it will consist of a market (Soumbédioune market), sidewalks, walking areas, grill areas, modern lighting and landscaping. According to the boss of Agetip, the beach of Soumbédioune suffers more from a problem of development and rational occupation of space than from erosion issues because the Island of Madeleine provides it with a natural wave breeze. “The main objective for this sequence is to reorganize the fish market and the liberation of public rights-of-way to allow visitors to live a beautiful gastronomic experience, with the creation of spaces for the preparation of fish specialities, and tourists to visit the craft market and the fishing port. Lighting will be provided and supported by the metal cord. It is for the project to recreate its ecosystem through fish sellers and all people related to fishing activities, “said El Hadji Malick Gaye.