Littoral Region: Public Works Minister assesses progress of work on major road projects.

This was the substance of a working visit, undertaken by Minister Nganou Djoumessi, to the Littoral Region.

The visit Tuesday, it was gathered, provided the Minister the opportunity to appraise the progress of projects to develop the East entrance to Douala and the construction of the Douala-Bonepoupa Road.

Nganou Djoumessi also used the visit to examine the schedules for the execution or completion of works in progress before boosting the project teams on the various sites.

The visit came three months after the start of works on Phase ll of the East entrance to Douala. The major road project consists mainly of the construction of a 9-km-long urban boulevard with 3x2 lanes of 3.50m each, between Boko Junction and the bridge over River Dibamba. 

The project also includes the construction of infrastructure, including four roundabouts, engineering and drainage structures, with an open gantry underpass, PIPO at Yassa Junction and an SPDA-type inter-change at the entrance to the Japoma Stadium.

It will see the construction of alternative roads to serve urban areas linked to the main road to be developed, urban and public facilities, road signing and public lighting, landscaping, and the development and monitoring of an environmental and social management plan. It was gathered that pavement works were estimated at 7.49% as at May 15, 2023.

With regard to the Douala-Bonepoupa Road construction project, which extends over 32.7km, works have intensified in recent weeks, marked by an execution rate standing at 51.36% as at April 2023, according to a document from the Ministry of Public Works.

Meanwhile, during his visit to the construction site of the first section of the Douala-Yabassi Road, the Minister of Public Works had laid emphasis on issues related to the clearance of rights-of-way of the Douala side of the project, as well as on the organisation of the contractor. 

He had particularly laid emphasis on issues linked to compliance with the completion schedule of the project. The development of the said roads, authorities say, aims at facilitating access to the city of Douala, ease the movement of people and goods. It will ensure the servicing of socio-economic infrastructure along the road.