Centre Region: Minister lays foundation stone of 160-metre-long bridge over River Nyong.

The foundation stone was laid Friday June 21 in the locality of Malombo, Makak Subdivision.

This was in the presence of the Minister of Social Affairs, Irene Pauline Nguene and the Secretary of State to the Minister of Public Works in Charge of Roads, Armand Ndjodom

Once completed, the giant road infrastructure will boost movement of people and goods between the Nyong and Kellé and Mefou and Akono divisions of the Centre Region.

In his speech during the flag off ceremony, Minister Nganou Djoumessi, said that in order to ensure that users could cross the River Nyong safely, the President of the Republic had urgently ordered the construction of a bridge over the river.

“The bridge brings people together, the bridge unites them, the bridge creates conditions of rapprochement, exchange and harmony. The Malombo bridge will provide another link to the port of Kribi. With the construction of this infrastructure, we need to provide access to make traffic flow more smoothly," the minister said.

The construction work has already begun on the project site, which will reduce the difficulties encountered in crossing River Nyong.

China First Highway Engineering Company Ltd and the Integc/General Engineering Consortium were selected following international and national tendering procedures respectively to carry out the major project.

The project involves the the construction of a 160-metre steel-concrete double girder bridge and 960-metre access roads. 

The 160-metre double-girder steel-concrete bridge, comprises a double carriageway with 1x2 lanes of 3.5 metres each and two pavements of 1 metre each on either side of the carriageway, four spans of around 40 metres each, and reinforced concrete abutments and piers resting on footings.

In addition to the structure, the company will be building access roads over a total length of 960 m with a cross-section featuring a 1x2 lane carriageway of 3.5 m each with 2 shoulders of 1.5 m each on either side of the lanes. 

The pavement structure of the said access roads will comprise a 5 cm thick asphalt concrete wearing course, a 20 cm thick 0/31.5 crushed gravel base course, a 25 cm thick lateritic gravel sub-base course and a two-layer surface dressing on the shoulders. 

Other works are also included in the contract. This includes the construction of a 4x5x4 and a 3x1.5x2 balancing gutter and drainage works. 

The cost of the works is 8,626,525,897 FCFA, with technical supervision estimated at 897,892,875 FCFA. The works are scheduled for completion on March 30, 2027.

Authorities have said the aim of the project is to open up the villages of Minka and Bitoutouk as far as the Olama - Kribi road, thereby revitalising the agricultural sector and promoting the rural and economic development of the villages surrounding the River Nyong.

The facility will also facilitate crossing of the River Nyong at Malombo safer. Prior to the coming of the project, several lives had been lost due to the dangerous nature of the river.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3148 of Monday June 24, 2024