Effa Tambenkongho
4 December 2008
Circulation has become a problem in Douala due to several road construction works in town. Most road construction works that were suspended in Douala because of the rains have resumed including rehabilitation work on the Wouri Bridge. Thus, circulation has become a problem in most parts of town with traffic congestion getting unbearable on nearly every road in Douala. The road rehabilitation work is in a bid to continue with the vision of the Government Delegate of the Douala City Council, Fritz Ntone Ntone, who wants to make Douala beautiful and give the town good roads.
The roads are being rehabilitated in areas around town, like Akwa and Ancien Dalip. Akwa, in particular, is an area hardly known for heavy traffic but the rehabilitation work on roads has made it almost impossible to circulate like in Bonaberi which is reputed in Douala for dense traffic. Akwa is now congested and since it is a passage to Bonanjo and other major areas in town, many people go late to work since they have to go across the town through Akwa.
Another peculiarity of Akwa is that during the rainy season it suffers from floods because there is no water outlet. The roads in that locality have no gutters where rain water can flow and as such floods are common in the area. Most inhabitants around Akwa and those who have their offices in the locality are therefore saying the traffic congestion is difficult but they prefer to suffer now and be free from the floods during the rainy season.
Some road side vendors complain the construction work makes the area tight and business has become difficult. They however rejoice that some people easily use the opportunity of slow circulation to recharge their phones. Concerning the Ancien Dalip area, it has always been known as a congested area. But with the recent innovations in Douala and road construction, the traffic has become more serious and vehicles stay longer in the area. An additional problem with this traffic congestion is that the whether is not helping matters.
There is scourging heat now in Douala making people sweat profusely in their cars as they wait to circulate. On the roads there are caterpillars which are digging where necessary and smoothening the roads at certain areas as required. This activity has further narrowed the road making passage possible only on one side of the road. There are taxis, private vehicles, pedestrians and motorbike riders all on this one lane of the road. The workers have however testified in a few weeks the work will be over and traffic will return to normal.
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