US-based engineering services firm Louis Berger has signed a five-year contract to manage the construction of the first segment of the Yaoundé-Douala highway in Cameroon.

The road segment will link Cameroon’s Government and diplomatic hub in Yaoundé to the country’s economic centre and deepwater port in Douala. It will be constructed with an investment capital of approximately €7m.

"Cameroon is a key transit country for the landlocked countries of Central Africa."

According to Louis Berger, the existing road is extremely congested and is one of the deadliest roads in the Central African region, characterised by its many curves, changes in road grade, poor maintenance and heavy truck traffic, including logging semi-tractor trailers.

The company stated that the new road will result into a straighter and safer two-lane motorway.

Louis Berger’s head of operations in Africa Jean-Pierre Dupacq said: "The new 236km highway will lead to reduced travel time and will hopefully have a positive impact on the international transportation, because Cameroon is a key transit country for the landlocked countries of Central Africa."