Engoyi–Omuntele finally completed
The long-awaited Engoyi–Omuntele road in the Oshikoto region has been completed, with its official commissioning scheduled for Thursday.
The road, which for years posed challenges for motorists, will be inaugurated by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah alongside works and transport minister Veikko Nekundi, Namibian Sun has learnt.
The commissioning was initially expected to take place in September last year, but the project faced delays, reportedly primarily due to a dispute between the contractor, Roads Contractor Company (RCC), and Burmeister & Partners Consulting Engineers (Pty) Ltd, the project’s consulting engineer.
However, that is now in the past, as motorists can travel comfortably between Engoyi and Omuntele, with only minor finishing work still under way.
Relief for motorists, passengers
Last week, Namibian Sun spoke to several motorists, mostly taxi operators, who expressed excitement that their long-standing concerns had finally been addressed.
They said they can now transport passengers without worrying about the poor road conditions.
They also welcomed the road’s completion ahead of the approaching rainy season.
“I am very happy. This road has been a headache to many of us. We sometimes had to leave customers at Engoyi because the roads were bad and it was not good to drive on that bumpy road,” Simon Thomas said.
Thomas added that the driving time between Engoyi and Omuntele will be significantly reduced.
“I used to drive at a speed of 20 and 30 km/h, but now one can drive up to 120 km/h and make a lot of trips," he said.
He applauded the development and appealed to goverment to continue projects of this kind.
"Gravel roads will never be a solution. Motorists need bitumen standard roads all over the country,” Thomas said.
Anna Fillemon, a resident of Omuntele, told Namibian Sun that the days of enduring bumpy rides to Engoyi are now over.
“That road was bad, and whenever you board a taxi, you would programme your body to accept the ups and downs in that car," she said.
"During the rainy season we suffered a lot, as cars would not travel that often, which leaves you to wait for more than two hours for a car to pass by. With the road now completed, I no longer have to wait that long because taxis are now all over,” she added.
In October 2023, then president Nangolo Mbumba officiated the groundbreaking ceremony for the project, which is estimated to have cost over N$20 million.
[email protected]
The road, which for years posed challenges for motorists, will be inaugurated by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah alongside works and transport minister Veikko Nekundi, Namibian Sun has learnt.
The commissioning was initially expected to take place in September last year, but the project faced delays, reportedly primarily due to a dispute between the contractor, Roads Contractor Company (RCC), and Burmeister & Partners Consulting Engineers (Pty) Ltd, the project’s consulting engineer.
However, that is now in the past, as motorists can travel comfortably between Engoyi and Omuntele, with only minor finishing work still under way.
Relief for motorists, passengers
Last week, Namibian Sun spoke to several motorists, mostly taxi operators, who expressed excitement that their long-standing concerns had finally been addressed.
They said they can now transport passengers without worrying about the poor road conditions.
They also welcomed the road’s completion ahead of the approaching rainy season.
“I am very happy. This road has been a headache to many of us. We sometimes had to leave customers at Engoyi because the roads were bad and it was not good to drive on that bumpy road,” Simon Thomas said.
Thomas added that the driving time between Engoyi and Omuntele will be significantly reduced.
“I used to drive at a speed of 20 and 30 km/h, but now one can drive up to 120 km/h and make a lot of trips," he said.
He applauded the development and appealed to goverment to continue projects of this kind.
"Gravel roads will never be a solution. Motorists need bitumen standard roads all over the country,” Thomas said.
Anna Fillemon, a resident of Omuntele, told Namibian Sun that the days of enduring bumpy rides to Engoyi are now over.
“That road was bad, and whenever you board a taxi, you would programme your body to accept the ups and downs in that car," she said.
"During the rainy season we suffered a lot, as cars would not travel that often, which leaves you to wait for more than two hours for a car to pass by. With the road now completed, I no longer have to wait that long because taxis are now all over,” she added.
In October 2023, then president Nangolo Mbumba officiated the groundbreaking ceremony for the project, which is estimated to have cost over N$20 million.
[email protected]
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article