N$32 million paid to farmers for airport road project

The Roads Authority (RA) paid N$32.2 million in compensation to seven farmers whose land was expropriated for the expansion of the Windhoek–Hosea Kutako International Airport road. This was confirmed during the official opening of a new roundabout near the airport on Wednesday.RA CEO Dr Conrad Lutombi said the compensation process was handled transparently, ensuring fair payouts based on approved valuations.“These were landowners along the route who had to give up parts of their farms for this national development. We engaged them properly and ensured they were compensated accordingly,” he said.The new roundabout, located near the airport and police station, has been opened to traffic as part of the broader Dr Hage Geingob Freeway project. It aims to ease congestion and improve access in the area.“The temporary access to the airport remains in use while we complete final touches inside the airport premises,” Lutombi explained. Freeway nears completionThe 49-kilometre stretch between Windhoek and Hosea Kutako International Airport is being upgraded in two phases – sections 2A and 2B – at a total cost of about N$3 billion, including land compensation.Section 2B, which begins past Dordabis, is 99.9% complete and is expected to be finished by the end of August. Section 2A, running from the Sam Nujoma East Interchange to Dordabis, is 95% complete.“We’re on track to officially open the freeway by the third week of September,” Lutombi said, adding that President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has been invited to officiate the event. Section 2B is funded by a grant from China, while Section 2A is financed through an African Development Bank loan.Engineering milestoneSMEC Namibia’s Renier van Rooyen, the consulting engineer for Section 2A, said the project experienced delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “Although Section 2A is only 20 kilometres long, it involved the highest volume of cut-and-fill work in the history of any Namibian road project,” he said. “We now expect full completion by mid-September.”Lutombi highlighted the project's economic significance, noting that acting now had resulted in substantial cost savings.“Delaying this project by five to ten years would have pushed the cost beyond N$5 billion,” he pointed out. “This is a long-term investment that will benefit Namibia for decades to come.”

N$32 million paid to farmers for airport road project

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Namibian Sun 2025-12-17

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N$32 million paid to farmers for airport road project

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Namibian Sun 2025-12-17

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