AR1 highway

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The AR1 highway (Autoroute AR1) is Madagascar’s first toll road. It will connect the capital, Antananarivo, with the port city of Toamasina over about 260 kilometers. Construction began in December 2022 and is led by the Egyptian company Samcrete, with an estimated cost of around $1 billion and a planned four-year timeline.

The road will be a four-lane toll highway with six toll stations and three rest areas. The speed limit will be 120 km/h. Tolls are 15,000 Ariary for cars and 20,000 Ariary for heavy trucks. Along the way it will intersect Route nationale 4 and join Route nationale 44. When finished, the new route will shorten the trip from Antananarivo to Toamasina by about 110 kilometers, cutting travel time from roughly 8–10 hours to around 2.5 hours. It’s expected to boost the port’s activity and help Madagascar’s economy, while also reducing fuel use on this route.

The project has faced controversy. Some farmers worry about land loss and forest impact, and there have been questions about tendering and compensation. The government says proper procurement was followed and that most financing comes from external sources. Officials say the road will create jobs and business opportunities along its length. As of May 2023, about 20 kilometers had been built. The western end will be in Tsarasaotra, Anjozorobe, and the eastern end in Toamasina, passing towns such as Sabotsy Namehana, Ambohimanga Rova, Talata Volonondry, Anjozorobe, and Andaingo.