Cuca shops halt dual carriageway

A lack of sufficient space to expand the Omuthiya-Oshivelo B1 road into a dual carriageway, along with a firm rejection by members of the elite business community of Oshikoto and Omuthiya towns to construct a new bypass road, caused the Roads Authority (RA) to opt to rather construct a 'two-plus-one' carriageway. The RA's Timotheus Hatuikulipi said that the road design has been completed and will be the same as the Okahandja-Karibib B2 route which was completed in 2010. The route will provide a passing lane in a bid to reduce road accidents due to speeding and overtaking. Hatwiikulipi was speaking at the RA's public meeting on the road safety audit for the Trans-Kunene and Windhoek-Luanda corridors on Wednesday at Ondangwa. He said that the RA is focusing on high mobility on national routes while at the same time reducing accident rates. “Like on the Okahandja-Karibib road, after a very two kilometres, drivers will be given an opportunity to pass slower-moving vehicles by means of an additional lane – instead of overtaking into the oncoming traffic's lane. We believe this will reduce accidents while increasing mobility.” The new project is also aimed at relieving pressure on the congested Ondangwa-Oshakati road. The RA was embroiled in a dispute with traditional leaders over their subjects who are building too close to the main road between Oshivelo and Ongwediva. Some of the builders were issued with letters ordering them to demolish their structures, but they refused and accused the RA of failing to embark on a public awareness campaign to avoid the current situation. The RA had planned to expand the Oshivelo-Ongwediva road into a dual carriageway. The authority was however met with a series of challenges of which not the least was the many cuca shops established within the road reserve. According to the authority, it is prohibited to erect a permanent structure within 100 metres from the road. The two-plus-one route will start 15 kilometres south of Omuthiya, and will follow the current alignment up to Onethindi. From Onethindi it will bypass Ondangwa, Ongwediva and Oshakati in the south and will join the main road just after Oshakati. Hatuikulipi said that all the designs are completed and they are waiting for the funds. “We will not allow cuca shops along the Onethindi-Oshakati bypass as the road will be fenced off and there will no access to cuca shops, only to towns. This will be a high mobility road.ILENI NANDJATO

Cuca shops halt dual carriageway

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-02

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Cuca shops halt dual carriageway

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-02

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