New Cameroon highway to connect key cities

A new highway will connect Cameroon’s key cities of Doula and Yaoundé. The 215km highway will be constructed by the Chinese contractor China First Highway Engineering, with the project costing an estimated US$579 million in all. Much of the financing for the project is being provided through a $491.5 million loan from the China Exim Bank. Scet Tunisie and Louis Berger have a partnership for the $8.36 million deal for project management of the first phase of the project, the 80km section from Yaoundé to Bot Makak. Construction of the first section of the highway is expected to last 36 months although Cameroon’s climate poses a challenge to this schedule as the weather can be unpredictable and particularly in the rain season. Stormwater drainage will be a key factor in the design of the route as the region’s rainy season can see massive torrential downpours with enormous quantities of rainfall in an extremely short period. Alleviating problems caused by scour can present a long term design challenge for roads and bridges constructed in Cameroon as well as neighbouring countries.