It was during a consultation led by the Minister of Public Works, in the presence of the Governor of the Center region, that the route of phase 2 of the Yaoundé-Douala highway was validated. The CFHEC company in charge of the work, on this occasion presented its work start schedule and indicated its financing plan.
Two route variants were proposed during this consultation by the CFHEC company. The first leaves from Bibodi at the eastern entrance to the city of Douala via a bypass road and the second, from Bibodi to the locality of Pitti, with a connection road which leads to the Dibamba. We note that for the two variants, five interchanges are planned over a length of approximately 135 km: in Bibodi, Bodmon, Edea Est, Edea Ouest and Bretelle Dibamba, with one more interchange at the eastern exit of the city of Douala, for the variant which goes from Bibodi to the Douala city bypass. In view of the concerns raised, the parties agreed to examine these two proposals on the basis of the costs of each variant, the functionality of this phase 2 and its connection to the existing network. The Minister of Public Works has prescribed a deadline of 5 days for this and the adopted route will be validated during a meeting scheduled for April 2, 2024.
On a completely different level, the presence of the Governor of the Central region at this meeting held on March 27, 2024 clearly indicates that questions relating to the clearance of rights-of-way constituted a major point on the agenda. Indeed, once the route has been validated, the company will, according to its work start schedule, deploy on the site. She also precisely indicated that to begin work between kilometer points 60 and 100 where the route is validated, the rights-of-way must be released. The Governor of the Central region, stressed to this effect that his competent services, in charge of the issues concerned, will carry out raids as soon as possible.
It should be noted that during the feasibility study of phase 2 of the Yaoundé-Douala motorway, several route variants were identified, taking into account the various strong or blocking environmental and social constraints, while avoiding disrupting the main components of the natural and human environments in their area of direct influence.
Regarding financing, working sessions were previously held between the company and Minepat, for the mobilization of resources. Particular emphasis was placed on the geography of project financing and questions of consistency between the State debt ceiling and benefits were addressed. Regarding tax and customs duties, discussions converged towards the reduction of the same provisions as those of phase 1.
The next consultation will be held on April 2, 2024, for the validation of the route and the necessary arrangements for starting the work around mid-April.
Clément Noumsi