Yaounde-Douala motorway: Phase II to swallow nearly 880 billion FCFA.

This was during the launch of the second phase of the project which is expected to be delivered by 2027.

The construction of phase two of the 141.1 km Yaounde-Douala motorway, running from Bibodi to Douala, was launched by the Minister of Public Works, Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi.

This was in the presence of the Minister of State Property, Surveys and Land Tenure, Henri Eyebe Ayissi, the Governor of the Centre Region, Naseri Paul Bea, and a huge crowd of locals who came to witness the decisive moment.

It was disclosed at the launch that the breakthrough is the result of the recent visit of the Head of State, President Paul Biya, to China.

The Yaounde-Douala motorway was at the front burner of the projects presented during the exchanges between the Cameroonian and Chinese parties.

Linking the cities of Yaounde and Douala, facilitating trade within the Central African sub-region via the Douala-N'Djamena, Douala-Bangui and Douala-Brazzaville corridors, improving transport and transit on all these corridors and contributing to the development of the localities crossed by the said road infrastructure are among the objectives to be achieved by the construction of phase two of the Yaounde-Douala motorway.

Speaking during the solemn occasion, the Minister Nganou Djoumessi pointed out that the commitment of the State of Cameroon to China First Highway Engineering Company, CFHEC, was the result of the excellence of the company's work but also of the quality of the work carried out by the company on the first section of the motorway, between Yaoundé and Bibodi.

The member of government reassured local residents of the measures to be taken regarding compensation for the project. He urged people to be open and civic-minded. 

The minister urged locals not to block the works while there were under way, insisting that they will all be compensated in due course.

He told the gathering that the report assessing the assets affected by the project has been finalised by the services of the Governor of the Centre Region, following the information and awareness-raising campaigns for the local population.

With regard to the cost of the infrastructure, it was disclosed that an estimated amount of nearly 880 billion FCFA will be used for the phase two of the project.

The Minister of Public Works pointed out that the work would be carried out on the basis of a unit price contract, under which the company would be remunerated on the basis of the services provided.

The essential characteristics of the infrastructure were presented by CFHEC, through the voice of the Project Director, Wen.

The Yaounde-Douala motorway phase two will extend over a total length of 141.1 km, with 34.5 km of slip roads connecting to the existing road network. 

The route of the Yaounde - Douala motorway project Phase II comprises five sections: Bibodi-Bodmon (39.5 km); Bodmon-Edea Est (Song Dong) (34 km); Edea Est (Song Dong)-Edea Ouest (Logbadjeck) (30 km); Edea Ouest (Logbadjeck)-Pitti gare (18 km); and Pitti gare-Massoumbou (19.5 km).

The company has made it clear that its ambition is not only to work towards a legacy that will go down in the history of infrastructure in Cameroon.

The Chinese company aims to make the project a source of jobs for local residents while the work is being carried out.

The scope of the work includes the construction of six bridges with a total length of 2,070 linear metres; 31 overpasses with a total length of 2,068 linear metres; 15 underpasses and 331 culverts; six interchanges; a toll plaza on the motorway; five toll plazas on the ramps; three service areas; three parking areas; four maintenance areas and a management centre.

The work on phase two of the Yaounde-Douala motorway will be completed within thirty-six months, if all the conditions are met.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3249 of Friday October 04, 2024