What can be done to avert loss of human life and property for roads constructed around hilly areas in Cameroon in the light of Project Maturation?

The frequent landslides in hilly areas, such as the one at La Falaise in Dschang, which led to the loss of human lives and caused significant property damage on 5th November 2024, highlight the need for more careful planning, investment, and management in public infrastructure projects. In such cases, there are several key lessons that can be learned with respect to the maturation of public investment projects, especially concerning road construction and maintenance in vulnerable areas.

Public investments in road infrastructure in hilly areas must incorporate thorough risk assessments of the geological, climatic, and environmental conditions. Understanding the specific landslide risks is crucial before any major road construction is engaged.

The Government should invest in high-quality geological surveys, landslide modeling, and data collection on weather patterns to assess long-term risk. These data can inform decisions about which areas are most at risk and guide the design of roads, drainage systems, and protective infrastructure. By installing early warning systems that use real-time weather and soil moisture data can provide advance notice to communities and road authorities to prepare or close roads when necessary.

Roads built in hilly or mountainous areas must be designed with the terrain and environmental challenges in mind. The engineering should include stabilization measures to prevent landslides and mitigate their impact when they occur. They should be designed to include retaining walls, proper drainage systems, slope stabilization techniques (like terracing or vegetation planting), and erosion control measures. The road layout should also consider natural water flow and avoid cutting through vulnerable slopes. In La Falaise Dschang, the road was built with reinforcing mesh, retaining walls, and terracing to prevent erosion and landslides in some areas which could have accounted to the disaster.The planting on the Station hill in Bamenda has greatly prevented landslide along the road going to down-town in Bamenda

Maturation of public investment in road infrastructure is not just about building roads but also maintaining them over time. Ongoing monitoring and maintenance are critical to ensure that the road remains safe, especially after heavy rains that could trigger landslides. Hence the need for continuous monitoring of roads for signs of ground movement or erosion should be standard practice. This can include installing sensors that detect shifts in the earth, regularly inspecting roads after storms, and maintaining a schedule for clearing debris and repairing damaged sections of the road. In Japan, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) conducts routine inspections and employs advanced technology, such as drones and geotechnical sensors, to monitor and maintain roads in mountainous areas.

The design and construction of infrastructure in landslide-prone areas should not only focus on roadways but also on creating broader, more sustainable transportation networks. This can include alternatives such as tunnels, bridges, or more resilient road surfaces. The tunnel on the road from Bangangté to Bafang is a good example. In the Andes Region, Countries like Chile and Peru, have invested in tunnels and bridges to bypass dangerous mountain routes prone to landslides.

With changing climate patterns, extreme weather events like heavy rainfall or storms may become more frequent and intense, increasing the risk of landslides. Public investment must be future-proof, taking climate change into account. This implies projects should incorporate climate adaptation strategies, considering both current and projected environmental changes. It can take the form of designing infrastructure that can withstand heavier rains, more frequent flooding, and increased erosion. In the Philippines, road infrastructure projects in mountainous areas are increasingly incorporating climate resilience features, such as flood-resistant drainage systems and slope protection against landslides.

Landslide risks are often interconnected with broader environmental and governance challenges, such as deforestation, poor land use, or inadequate regulatory oversight. The maturation of public investment projects should involve synergy across various levels of government, technical experts, and local communities. Coordination between Local, Regional, and National Authorities, as well as with Civil Society and the Private Sector stakeholders, is critical to ensure that land use planning, deforestation control, and infrastructure development are aligned in reducing landslide risks. This implies for all road projects in Cameroon, environmental assessment shouldn’t suffice but the presence of representatives of the Ministry of Environment in the Committee for the Maturation of Projects, Tender’s Board Commissions and following-up of the execution of the project from the Service Order to Commence to final reception is crucial.

The maturation of public investment in road infrastructure in hilly areas must evolve to focus not only on building roads but also on designing resilient, sustainable systems that are adaptable to environmental changes. Integrating advanced technology, thorough planning, community involvement, and climate adaptation will be critical to reducing the risks posed by landslides and ensuring the safety of the people who rely on these roads.

BERKA DZEKEM,IPRF,MMP,MCP,MFP.