National Road 2 (RN2) is frequently the scene of massive traffic jams, often caused by accidents or truck breakdowns.
Traffic congestion has become a recurring issue for RN2 users. Yesterday afternoon, significant traffic jams paralyzed movement in Mandraka. According to a local traffic official, a heavy goods vehicle overturned in the middle of the road around noon, completely blocking traffic in both directions. The congestion stretched for several kilometers, and traffic only began to open up gradually, with alternating flow, around 4:00 PM.
Another massive traffic jam paralyzed the route this weekend, with a 4 km line forming between Maharidaza and Carion following a truck breakdown. Local sources explain that the truck suffered a gearbox failure on a degraded section of the road, blocking traffic for nearly two hours.
The RN2 accumulates all factors of paralysis: accidents, breakdowns, damaged road sections, and ongoing infrastructure repair work. The situation worsens during rain, as the road becomes particularly slippery. For road users, every trip is an ordeal; motorists now recommend carrying provisions and expecting delays, noting that an eight-hour trip between Antananarivo and Moramanga is not uncommon.
A technician from the Ministry of Public Works attributes these incidents more to driver recklessness and the aging of vehicles than to the state of the roads. Many trucks exceed weight limits, and some are no longer roadworthy. However, repair work on the RN2, funded by the World Bank, the Road Fund, and state resources, is progressing steadily, with 70% of the work completed and significant results expected by 2027-2028.
Captured & Published at: 2026-08-18 05:54:09 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/08/circulation-les-embouteillages-se.html