The expansion of Yaoundé's northern entry road has fallen significantly behind schedule, raising fresh uncertainty over the completion of one of Cameroon's most important urban transport projects. As of July 14, 2026, the project was 25.86% complete even though 89.11% of the contractual construction period had already elapsed, according to the Ministry of Public Works. The gap of more than 63 percentage points has prompted the ministry to call on contractor Arab Contractors to step up work on the highway linking the Olembé district to the Obala interchange.
Construction has nevertheless advanced on several sections of the project. Workers have completed 9,194 meters of the natural laterite foundation layer and 6,650 meters of the crushed stone base layer, while 2,700 meters have already been paved with asphalt concrete. Drainage works are also underway.
According to the ministry, one of the main causes of the delay is the incomplete release of land needed for the project. Several public utility networks and installations still occupy the construction corridor, including infrastructure belonging to Camtel, Socadel and Camwater, as well as fiber-optic cables. A geodetic marker and a surveillance camera operated by the General Delegation for National Security also need to be relocated.
These obstacles have limited the contractor's access to parts of the site and prevented crews from working simultaneously along the entire route. The ministry believes progress should improve once the remaining land is cleared and the contractor increases its mobilization.
The project is also being affected by negotiations over additional construction prices. According to the Ministry of Public Works, the discussions involve bridge construction, geogrid-reinforced embankments and recycling sections of the existing roadway. Because these activities are not fully covered by the original contract pricing, the government and the contractor must first agree on new rates before the work can proceed. The ministry did not disclose the value of the proposed adjustments or whether they could increase the project's overall cost.
The road expansion is intended to improve traffic flow along Yaoundé's northern gateway, a heavily congested corridor that serves commuters traveling between the capital, Obala and the West, Northwest and Adamawa regions. With less than 26% of the work completed as the contractual deadline approaches, the project's completion now depends on clearing the remaining rights-of-way, relocating utility infrastructure and concluding the outstanding pricing negotiations between the government and the contractor.
Thierry Christophe Yamb