The £129m road mega-project set to boost African country’s transport links

Road transportation is the most frequently used means of moving goods and people in many . That means road infrastructure is a key driver of economic development and opportunities on the continent.

However, only around one-third of rural dwellers live within two kilometres of an all-season road—the lowest accessibility in the developing world. Insufficient funding for routine maintenance work is also speeding up the deterioration of the existing network of , leaving many in poor condition.

The infrastructure challenges facing governments are considerable and will require heavy investment.

Research estimates that between £14 and 19billion per year will need to be ploughed into transportation networks. Currently, just around £4billion is being spent annually.

One African country that is making a determined attempt to modernise its road infrastructure is .

The government has recently announced a whopping £129 million project to upgrade four major roads.

These include a road around Lékié in the Centre Region and a road linking Mbalmayo with Sangmelima in the Cenre-South region.

This year is also set to see the launch of nine major road projects, covering a total of 345 miles.

Key projects include the 111-mile Ebolowa-Kribi road via Akom II, estimated to cost £176 million, and the Lolabé-Campo expressway.

In a further boost to the country’s road network, a new 23-mile long road was opened to traffic in February.

Built by the Powerchina, the road runs through dense rainforest and links Ndjole and Mankim.

The opening of the road marks a major improvement in local transportation. Connecting several key towns, the road ends years of community travel difficulties.

Narrow and pothole-ridden roads previously resulted in slow travel and high transport costs.

Now, smooth and wide roadways allow for easier travel, more efficient timber and agricultural transportation, and reduced living costs.