The Trans-Gambia Highway is the most important road in The Gambia, running across the centre of the nation in a north–south direction. Within the Gambia, the highway consists of two main stretches, the North Bank Road and South Bank Road, each corresponding to the parts of the country on either side of the River Gambia. The two roads ultimately connect to each other, via car ferry across the River Gambia, at the village of Fatoto, at the far eastern end of the country. The more centrally located Senegambia bridge opened in January 2019. The road is also economically important for Senegal, in which it is designated as the N4 road.
Geography
The Gambia is an elongated state forming a country that is almost surrounded by Senegal. The Gambia almost separates the Casamance region from the remainder of Senegal.
South Bank Road
The southern portion of the Trans-Gambia Highway begins in the islandcapital city, Banjul, before crossing onto the mainland at the Denton Bridge. From here, the route passes through metropolitan Kombo and the principal cities of Kanifing, Serekunda, and Yundum, where it passes near the Banjul International Airport. Leaving the capital, the route proceeds along the full length of the southern half of the country, connecting the major towns of Brikama, Soma, Janjanbureh, Bansang, and Basse Santa Su before terminating at Fatoto. At Soma, the highway intersects with an extension of the Trans-Gambia Highway that provides northward access to the town of Farafenni, on Gambia's northern bank, via the newly-opened Senegambia Bridge. If taken south into Senegal, N4 provides access to Casamance and Ziguinchor. As of 2019, the South Bank Road is paved for its entire length. Aside from a short four-lane section in Kombo, the road is a two lane highway.
The northern portion of the highway begins at Barra, at the Banjul–Barra Ferry. Heading eastward, the route traverses the full northern half of the country, passing through the major towns of Farafenni, Wassu, Laminkoto, and Sutukoba before reaching the river ferry at Fatoto. At Farafenni, the highway connects with the extension of the Trans-Gambia Highway that crosses the River Gambia at the Senegambia Bridge, linking the northern half of the Gambia with the town of Soma and points southward in Senegal. Taking N4 northward, meanwhile, leads into Senegal, in the direction of Kaolack and, eventually, Dakar. As of 2019, the North Bank Road is paved for the distance between Barra and Laminkoto, with the remaining section under construction. The road is two lanes for its entire length.
Senegal
The Trans-Gambia Highway provides the most important connection between the two parts of Senegal. As the N4, it runs from Kaolack and Nioro, across Gambia and then into Bignona and Ziguinchor in the Casamance. The actual Gambian section is only 25 km long.
