Officials of the Ministry of Public Works, engineers, contractors, and local residents have expressed optimism over the progress of the ongoing Bamenda Urban Crossing road project, following an appraisal tour of major construction sites across the Northwest regional capital on Thursday, May 14, 2026.
The team, led by the control mission from Yaounde alongside the North West Regional Delegate of Public Works, Nfor Cyprian Ngenge, and BUNS road construction officials, assessed the level of work completed on several strategic sections of the urban road network currently under reconstruction.
The tour covered key locations including Hospital Roundabout, T Junction, City Chemist Roundabout, Sonac Street, Veterinary Junction, Ngen Junction, Mile II Nkwen, New Road in Nkwen, Ecole de Champion Junction, Bamendakwe, and the “Welcome to Bamenda” stretch where works have already been completed.
According to Nfor Cypeain Ngenge, North West Regional Delegate of Public Works, the Bamenda Urban Crossing project has recorded “significant advancement” compared to previous months, especially on drainage infrastructure and bridge construction. “The urban crossing in the town of Bamenda is far advanced,” he said. “Most of the major drainage structures are being wrapped up by BUNS Construction Road Company.”
He pointed to ongoing works at the Mile II Nkwen and Food Market bridges as among the most critical stages of the project, describing them as major structures currently under active construction.
Authorities say preparations have also been made to ensure continuity of work during the rainy season. Nfor Cyprian further explained that several remaining culverts have already been prefabricated to allow for faster installation despite adverse weather conditions. “For this rainy season, given that they have already handled much of the major drainage structures, the culverts that are left have already been prefabricated so that it will be easy for them to place them during the rainy season,” he said.
The Ministry of Public Works maintains that the project remains on course for completion by February 2027, although officials acknowledge that external factors could still affect timelines. “These heavy roadworks are expected to finish in February 2027,” the North West Public Works boss stated. “But with the projection and the rate at which they are working, if nothing interrupts, we are very optimistic that by February 2027 these works will be handed to the population.”
The project has, however, not been without challenges.
Authorities admitted that disputes linked to expropriation and compensation for properties affected by the road expansion have slowed progress at certain stages. Some residents have reportedly contested compensation assessments or claimed that structures demolished exceeded those evaluated by authorities. “We cannot do road works like this without people complaining about one thing or the other,” he said, adding that the administration, including the Senior Divisional Officer for Mezam, is working with stakeholders to resolve outstanding litigation.
Traffic management and environmental concerns have also posed difficulties since construction began. Dust, congestion, and restricted mobility have affected motorists and businesses operating along the project corridor. Despite these disruptions, project supervisors say cooperation from residents has helped ease implementation.
Metuge Ramesse Ngaleme, Chief of Mission for the control team from Didon Consultant, described the pace of execution as satisfactory. “So far, the works have been going perfectly,” he said, noting that overall progress currently stands at 31 percent.
The head of the Yaoundé delegation explained that engineers are prioritizing the completion of hydraulic structures before the peak rainy season in order to accelerate pavement works later in the year. “We are trying as much as possible to construct all the hydraulic structures before the end of June 2026,” he said.
The Chief of Mission further disclosed that once works on the Mile II and Food Market bridges are completed, the project will have reached approximately 80 percent completion, with the remaining phase largely involving smaller prefabricated culverts.
Metuge Ramesse also raised concerns over the dumping of household waste into riverbeds, which they say threatens the integrity of drainage systems and bridge construction. “We have a lot of problems in most of the bridges that we are constructing because whenever rains come, and even when there are no rains, the local population dumps refuse in the riverbed,” he warned, calling on the media to help sensitize the public on proper waste disposal.
Contractors executing the works say they remain committed to delivering durable infrastructure despite the constraints associated with urban construction.
Tangie Joseph, Technical Director of BUNS, thanked both government authorities and the media for their support throughout the implementation process. “BUNS is not just a contracting firm,” he said. “It’s a firm that is out to give quality.”
He acknowledged that road users and residents continue to face temporary inconveniences, including traffic congestion, dust, and noise, but insisted that such challenges are unavoidable in major urban infrastructure projects. “By the time we finish the construction, we will not be talking about dust. We’ll not be talking about traffic jams,” he said.
For many residents and road users, early improvements are already being felt. Che Linus, a taxi driver in Bamenda, said the rehabilitation works have significantly reduced vehicle damage and improved driving conditions. “At least I can now move around the town for a straight week without having a tire puncture,” he said. “Before now, I would change tires at least three times a week.”
A businesswoman operating near Ngen Junction also praised the continuity of the project, saying fears that work would stall had not materialized. “We really do appreciate the works of BUNS,” she said. “From my own view, everything is going on smoothly.”
Residents around Mile II, Nkwen, believe the reconstruction of the bridge there could drastically reduce traffic congestion and flooding in the area. “The old bridge was too small,” one resident said. “With the coming of this new bridge now, it is going to help the population to circulate freely.”
The Bamenda Urban Crossing project is considered one of the most significant ongoing public infrastructure programs in the North West Region, with authorities hoping it will improve mobility, reduce traffic congestion, and modernize transport circulation within the city once completed.
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