Investment in infrastru ture is onsidered as a ru ial instrument for e onomi development. Given the s ar e resour es for publi investment in developing ountries poli y analysis should in lude a detailed perspe tive on the e_x001b_e ts of infrastru ture. This paper develops a modeling framework for the analysis of the e_x001b_e ts of improved road infrastru ture on the e onomy of Afri an ountries. The theoreti al framework is tested empiri ally and used for simulations in a Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model. The e_x001b_e ts on produ tion and welfare are analyzed. Additionally the model serves to investigate the e_x001b_e t of roads on the e onomi parti ipation of rural households.