World Bank Approves Additional Funding for Rehabilitation of Bamenda Urban Crossing

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved additional financing of 30 billion CFA francs (net of taxes) for the rehabilitation of the Bamenda urban crossing, Cameroon’s Ministry of Public Works announced on June 19, 2024.

The project aims to improve a 6.538 km section of the Bamenda-Babadjou road, stretching from the Amour Mezam Junction to the Veterinary Junction.

“This additional funding will cover the widening of the cross-section of this urban crossing from 17 to 30 meters, as expressly requested by the population concerned to the Head of State,” said Emmanuel Nganou, Minister of Public Works.

The project, which forms part of the broader Bamenda-Babadjou road rehabilitation initiative, aims to alleviate traffic congestion in Bamenda, a key city in the region. “Smooth traffic flow along this corridor is essential not only for the city but also for enhancing connectivity along the Yaounde-Bamenda-Mamfe-Ekok/Mfum-Abakaliki-Enugu route,” Minister Nganou added.

“The execution of this project will decongest the city of Bamenda and enable smooth traffic now on this section,” Nganou said. “This plays a key role in normalising the socio-political context in the area.”

The project will also include the recruitment of a contractor and a control mission to oversee the works. Additionally, the funding will support the Complaints Management Mechanism and Third-party Monitoring, which involve the local population in decision-making.

Construction is already underway on several sections of the road, with the Babadjou-Matazem section (17 km) already completed. Work is ongoing on the Matazem-Welcome to Bamenda (18 km), Welcome to Bamenda-Ecole des Champions (4.93 km) and Ecole des Champions-Amour Mezam (4.5 km) sections, all expected to be finished in 2024.

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