By Doh James Sonkey
Traffic is said to be running smoothly on the Babadjou- Matazem-Welcome to Bamenda section of the road network, following the official commissioning last September 17, 2025 of the Babadjou-Welcome to Bamenda section by the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute. The PM was accompanied in the mission by Public Works Minister, Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi, Urban Development and Housing Minister, Celestine Ketcha Courtes etc. Travelling this route linking the West and North West regions, along the Yaoundé-Bafoussam-Bamenda-Ekok-Enugu cross-border corridor, helps realise that this road was constructed in strict compliance with the standard governing the sector.
The infrastructure commissioned, which covers 35 km, between Babadjou and Welcome to Bamenda, does not include the sections that will help link this national road with the Bamenda urban road network. It was constructed in accordance with the quality and durability requirements of the technical specifications in force.
Its life span is twenty (20) years and its pavement structure is made up of an on-site recycled improved subgrade, 30 cm thick, a 20 cm-thick crushed graded aggregates sub-base, a 13 cm- thick bituminous-bound graded aggregates base and a 5 cm-thick bituminous concrete wearing course. It is a 35.050 km-long section with a two-way carriageway comprising: 1.2 km of one-way carriageway with 2 x 2 lanes developed on the Babadjou urban crossing, including public lighting; 2.1 km of one-way carriageway with 2 x 2 lanes developed on the Santa urban crossing, comprising public lighting; 69 hydraulic structures reconstructed and 29, 551 linear metres of ditches constructed as well.
In addition to these two lots, the Bamenda up-hill station by-pass sections covering 4.930 km and – Ecole des champions Amour Mezam – Junction (5.5 km), help make the project a major one.
Talking to reporters after giving the kick off of the urban crossing works, the PM, Head of Government expressed thanks to the population of the North West region for “coming out en masse to see that work has effectively started to improve the road network in Bamenda which was in a very deplorable condition we must admit here because of many circumstances. The Head of State has mobilised all his Ministers, all the companies that are to do the works, they are here. This is a promise of the Head of State. He is a person that make promises and realises those promises as well. That is why I am here to let the population of the whole world, of Bamenda to know that this is a reality. This road will be completed in due time”, PM Dion Ngute expressed.