Douala:Heavy rains compound traffic jams

Traffic jams have started again on the Rond Point Deido-Bonaberi-Bekoko stretch of road in Douala due to the ongoing road widening project. The situation is compounded by heavy rains. Travelling to the North West, South West and West Regions and other localities in the Littoral Region like the Douala IV municipality and the Moungo Division is becoming a nightmare to commuters and drivers as well.

Some cab drivers and bike riders now prefer to work in the city instead of crossing over to Bonaberi to meet inevitable queues. The digging and refilling of patches of the road by the construction company is also getting citizens worried. As at now, no part of the road has been completed, and with downpours often witnessed, commuters will have a tough time till the end of work on the stretch, Jonas Chia, a Bonaberi inhabitant lamented.

Though the stretch of road is not sufficiently large, barricades have been used to separate the lanes, causing terrible traffic jam. The tight traffic situation has obliged bike riders and some cab drivers to extort money from helpless commuters whose only worry is to reach their destinations. During evenings, some bike riders transport at least two passengers from town to Bonaberi. A distance that used to cost 250 FCFA now costs between 300 FCFA and 500 FCFA.

The traffic situation would have been worse if not for the Senior Divisional Officer for Wouri’s order banning movements of heavy-duty vehicles on the road from 2 pm to 10 pm from Fridays to Sundays.