Martin Nkematabong
6 July 2009
The over FCFA 5 billion project will be completed in October 2009.
The face of the Ahmadou Ahidjo Avenue, generally known as «douche municipale » in Akwa, has been remade. The Douala City Council has upgraded the former lousy backstreet adorned by a haunted lonely pond to a funky classic junction that leads both the rich and the poor to their various ends. Inhabitants of Bali, Bassa and other neighbourhoods would frequently meet here to admire a cluster of flower and shrubs, and also embrace the fluffs of a public fountain yet to be implanted at the core of the roundabout. That's the wish of the government delegate to the Douala city council, Fritz Ntone Ntone.
The 18-month rehabilitation project, which took off in April 2008, is expected to end in October 2009, a deadline the supervisory engineer from Egis Route/Egis Cameroun, Samuel Kangmonye, says would be strictly respected despite several teething troubles posed by bike riders, vendors and nearby transport agencies, with regard to circulation.
The rejuvenated junction is said to be the busiest in Douala, given that it cuts across the city, and also leads to the seaport, as well as the main industrial zone in Bassa. Its two lane avenue is 900m long and seven metres wide, bordering a chain of multiple shops and petit business centres run by local traders, Chinese, Nigerians and others.
Though the layout of the over FCFA 5 billion roundabout looks splendid and appealing, its several winding tributary lanes already pose a traffic problem to several bike riders who often get confused with regard to their right of way. The baffled riders either bump on pedestrians or clash against each other, especially during the evening hour rush. Against this backdrop, Egis Cameroon has stationed a chunk of traffic control agents to guide both commuters and motorists. Asked about the quality of the project, the supervisory engineer said it was acceptable, adding that shrub and flower planting would begin next week.
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