Traffic lights missing in major junctions in Yaoundé

It is 5:45 am at the Emombo II junction in Yaounde and many road users who want to avoid traffic congestion are already out of their homes heading to various destinations. Surprisingly, circulation is blocked.

While vehicles coming from Elf Emombo struggle to find their way towards Terminus Mimboman or Mimboman neighbourhood, those coming from Terminus Mimboman are also forcing their way across the junction, as well as vehicles from the Essomba junction, who wish to either move towards Elf Emombo or Terminus Mimboman.

Such a hold-up, observers say, is recurrent at the Emombo II junction as well as several other junctions in different neighbourhoods in the nation’s capital, where there are no traffic lights.

With the absence of traffic lights to ensure safe and orderly flow of traffic, protect pedestrians and vehicles at busy intersections as well as reduce the severity and frequency of accidents between vehicles entering intersections. Circulating around major junctions such as the Essomba, Terminus, Nsimeyong Church, Biyem-Assi and Mendong in Yaounde is a nightmare during most hours of the day.

A motor bike rider at the Emombo neighbourhood in Yaounde, Clovis Nkounga, says the entire Yaounde IV sub-division is crammed with junctions that do not have traffic lights. Beside the Emombo II junction, Clovis Nkounga says the situation is not different from the Elf Emombo, Mimboman junctions, as well as at the Essomba or Terminus junctions.

Clovis Nkounga noted that even the newly constructed road around Petit Marche Mimboman also needs a traffic light due to the intersection of vehicles coming from different angles in the neighbourhood.

At the Chappelle Nsimeyong junction, traffic congestion witnessed during rush hours cannot be over emphasised. Vehicles coming from the Tam-Tam neighbourhood, as well as those from Damas or Olezoa-Vogt, force their way through the Nsimeyong junction.

Three days back, during the morning hours, commuters on that stretch of road took close to two hours to pass through the Nsimeyong junction.

Motor bike riders in traffic congested areas notes that, although Traffic Police at times ease movement at these junctions, the situation cannot be completely solved by the police because not only are they at times unable to manage the huge jam, but also because they are not present at all times.

According to eye witnesses, the ideal solution is for traffic lights to be installed at all junctions in the town.