New B1 dual carriageway delayed by heavy rainfall

The Roads Authority (RA) says the upgrading of the Windhoek-Okahandja road to a dual carriageway will be delayed until end of the rainy season. The multimillion-dollar project started on January 13. The earth and layer work of the road, which was scheduled to be completed by August 2015, has been extended by four months because of wet soil following recent good rains. “Heavy rains generally delay earth and layer works since no compaction and no seal work are possible when the soil is very wet, and more likely the completion date may be towards November 2015,” RA spokesperson Hileni Fillemon said yesterday. The contractor, Grinaker-LTA, has now started working on the third section of the project – extension of the Western Bypass from Brakwater to the Döbra River. Section 1 is the construction of a second carriageway between Auas Road and Sam Nujoma Drive in Windhoek; Section 2 entails repairs to the current dual carriageway from Sam Nujoma Drive to Brakwater, while Section 4 is the construction of a freeway to Okahandja, via the Okahandja Western Bypass linking to Otjiwarongo and Karibib. Fillemon told Namibian Sun that the dual lanes were originally supposed to end at the Brakwater police checkpoint. “The contract was expected to be completed within 15 months, but additional works to extend the freeway to Döbra River include a new interchange into two bridges and four long ramps where the current police checkpoint is. “This also allows for a service road to the north-west, since all direct access will be cut off when the freeway is constructed, which will be a high-mobility system with access to and from the system only by means of on- and off-ramps at interchanges,” said Fillemon. This will push up the initial cost estimate of N$239 million, she added. The project includes the building of pedestrian bridges across the Windhoek Western Bypass to prevent accidents. Fillemon said the project is a priority for the Roads Authority because of the high traffic volume on the route, which offers limited overtaking opportunities. “At times, vehicles pass at very unsafe places such as no-passing zones against the barrier line. Thus one of the main reasons for the upgrading of the road is to enhance road safety. “Additionally, the existing Windhoek-Okahandja road was constructed in the mid-1950s, and it has served way beyond its initial purpose for nearly 60 years. “The upgrading of this road will also facilitate commercial trade throughout Namibia and the SADC region, specifically seen in the context of the new harbour at Walvis Bay,” said Fillemon.