Dominica has 1,512 kilometres of roadways, 762 kilometres of these roadways are paved. Dominicans drive on the left. Roads run primarily along the coastline and along river valleys. Major roads are two-lane highways which connect the capital, Roseau, with Portsmouth (Edward Oliver Leblanc Highway) and the Douglas-Charles Airport (Dr. Nicholas Liverpool Highway). Private minibuses form the major public transport system.
Roads on Dominica are known to be treacherous, with very steep terrain, narrow and winding with multiple blind curves. Some roads may be lined with steep embankments, and many are without protective siding to prevent cars from sliding off. Rain is heavy in Dominica, particularly on the island's interior during the wetter summer months, and road conditions can deteriorate quickly under the assault of heavy rains.
Many roads may be paved, though roads in remote, rural, and other areas that are not in good repair can be quite damaged. Road signs may be non-existent outside of major areas, and most roads are not lit in the evenings. It is recommended to avoid driving at night, and exercise caution in order to avoid pedestrians and other aggressive drivers who may throw caution to the wind while on the road.
The indicated sections of road have shown to be particularly susceptible to flooding and landslides.
For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Government Contact List
Distance Matrix
Given Dominica’s topography, it has a limited road network, and this makes travel to the island's airport and seaports time-consuming.
Distances from Capital City to Major Towns (km) |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Roseau |
Ports- mouth |
Soufriere |
Marigot |
La Plaine |
Grandbay |
|
Roseau |
44 |
14 |
44 |
40 |
18 |
|
Portsmouth |
44 |
55 |
35 |
64 |
58 |
|
Soufriere |
14 |
55 |
56 |
50 |
20 |
|
Marigot |
44 |
35 |
56 |
50 |
58 |
|
La Plaine |
40 |
64 |
50 |
50 |
57 |
|
Grandbay |
18 |
58 |
20 |
58 |
57 |
Travel Time Matrix
Travel Time from Capital City to Major Towns (hours’ minutes”) |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Roseau |
Ports- mouth |
Soufriere |
Marigot |
La Plaine |
Grandbay |
|
Roseau |
1’10” |
35” |
1’15” |
1’10” |
40” |
|
Portsmouth |
1’10” |
1’30” |
58” |
1’40” |
1’30” |
|
Soufriere |
35” |
1’30” |
1’40” |
1’45” |
40” |
|
Marigot |
1’15” |
58” |
1’40” |
1’30” |
1’40” |
|
La Plaine |
1’10” |
1’40” |
1’45” |
1’30” |
1’50” |
|
Grandbay |
40” |
1’30” |
40” |
1’40” |
1’50” |
Road Security
Traffic laws, such as speed limits and seat belt requirements, are not typically enforced, and drivers should exercise extreme caution while on the road because of this. Visitors can obtain a Driving Permit which costs US$12 and is available in car rental companies and are also available at Traffic & Licensing Department on High Street in Roseau. For more information see the following attached:
Weighbridges and Axle Load Limits
Most of Dominica bridges are old and not in good repair, in hurricane seasons can be damaged. Please see attached Access Constraints Maps from after Hurricane Maria hit the island in September 2017.