Traffic, potholes plague new Windhoek road project

The developer responsible for the upgrading of the busy Eneas Peter Nanyemba Road (formerly known as Monte Christo Road) in Windhoek says they are "acutely aware" of the two sections that urgently need rehabilitation.

The situation has worsened particularly since speed humps were installed on the B1 western bypass, increasing traffic at the two B1 exits and entrances near the Van Eck power station, as motorists seek to avoid the speed humps and instead travel through the northern industrial area towards the city centre.

Motorists have complained that peak hours have become a "nightmare", with major traffic congestion and potholes growing larger and deeper.

The potholes make it difficult for drivers of smaller vehicles to navigate the road without damaging their vehicles, forcing them to drive around them.

The two sets of traffic lights at the intersections were out of order for a long time and have since been repaired, but cannot keep up with growing traffic volumes.

According to Ongos Valley Development, the deterioration is being investigated and proposed solutions have already been submitted to the relevant authorities for approval and implementation.

"Road construction is an inherently complex process, and even more so on an active road that carries a daily mix of vehicles, from taxis and passenger cars to heavy-duty commercial trucks," the developer said this week.

Ongos Valley did not, however, disclose what caused the deterioration, how much the rehabilitation would cost or who would ultimately be responsible for paying for the repairs.

"We want to assure the public and key stakeholders that the rehabilitation of these two intersections has our full attention, and we remain committed to delivering a fully functional road by the end of the construction period," the developer said.

The City of Windhoek previously announced that the road would be upgraded to a dual carriageway at an estimated cost of about N$381 million. The road covers 6.1 kilometres from the western exit of the B1 highway to the intersection with Matshitshi Street in the Havana informal settlement.

The municipality has identified the project as one of several major road projects aimed at easing traffic congestion and reducing pressure on surrounding roads.

Urban plan

The road project forms part of Windhoek's sustainable urban transport master plan. The project team comprises Ongos Valley as the developer, Lithon Project Consultants, AIM Infrastructure Engineers and Managers, Namibia Construction and the City of Windhoek.

It remains unclear which entity would be financially responsible for the rehabilitation if the deterioration is found to result from construction, design, materials or other factors.

The developer did not say whether the affected sections would have to be completely reconstructed or whether more limited remedial work would be sufficient. It also did not indicate whether the rehabilitation could affect the project's completion schedule.

The road is expected to serve a rapidly expanding part of Windhoek, with Ongos Valley estimating that more than 250 000 people live within the wider north-western corridor.

The road's deterioration comes against the backdrop of significant pressure on Windhoek's wider road infrastructure, although the maintenance problems affecting the City's existing road network are separate from the rehabilitation now required on the still-under-construction Eneas Peter Nanyemba Road.

In August 2025, municipal officials said more than 650 streets across Windhoek were affected by severe surface wear, potholes and structural damage, while the City estimated that approximately N$384 million would be required annually to maintain and rehabilitate the capital's roads to acceptable standards.

The municipality also disclosed that it faced an estimated N$2.67 billion backlog in road and stormwater infrastructure maintenance and had repaired more than 26 000 potholes since February 2025.

At the time, the dualisation of Eneas Peter Nanyemba Road was identified among the major road infrastructure projects intended to improve traffic movement and reduce pressure on surrounding roads.