China First Highway Engineering Co. (CFHEC) has officially taken over construction of a bridge across the Mbam River in Nchiayang, a locality between Deuk and Bafia, in the Mbam-et-Inoubou division of Cameroon’s Central Region. The announcement came after a review of ongoing road projects led by Public Works Minister Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi between April 14 and 17, 2025.
CFHEC’s involvement follows the termination of a previous contract awarded in 2019 to a joint venture formed by Ecoa and Geyser S.A. That earlier deal was valued at CFA7 billion with a planned completion period of 36 months. But by September 2022, the Ministry of Public Works flagged several issues, including uncertainty around the supply of metal beams and, more broadly, the contractor’s failure to present and follow a clear construction schedule. These shortcomings led to the contract being canceled under the terms originally agreed.
The Chinese company was selected through a new tender process launched in July 2024. The updated contract now puts the total cost at CFA8 billion. The entire project will be funded through the public investment budget of the Ministry of Public Works.
The plan includes building a 130-meter-long mixed structure with three spans measuring 35 meters, 60 meters, and 35 meters. Each span will have two prefabricated metal beams, each 2.5 meters high, working in combination with a 35-centimeter reinforced concrete slab under the road surface.
The project also includes a 5-centimeter layer of bituminous concrete paving, reinforced concrete abutments and piers, and shallow foundations reaching up to 16 meters deep during the flood season. Around 5.4 kilometers of access roads will also be built to connect the structure to National Road No. 4 and the village of Gouffé.
CFHEC has already begun technical studies and initial site preparations. The bridge is expected to be delivered in 29 months. Once complete, it will open up access to the Mbam-et-Inoubou division, a major farming area in Cameroon known for producing cocoa, coffee, and yams.