Okahandja-Windhoek road nears completion
The dual carriageway between Windhoek and Okahandja will be completed in four sections at a total cost of N$2.5 billion, according to the Roads Authority.
Construction of the dual carriageway between Windhoek and Okahandja is expected to be completed by the end of 2019 according to Roads Authority chief executive officer, Conrad Lutombi.
The first section of the dual carriageway connects the Western Bypass to Auas Road and runs all the way up to Brakwater. The second section runs from Brakwater to a bridge over the Döbra River.
The third section runs to a permanent police checkpoint that is yet to be established. The fourth section will be from the checkpoint to the Okahandja-Otjiwarongo interchange.
According to Lutombi, N$1.4 billion has been spent on the project so far. The last section of the dual carriageway will cost approximately N$1 billion. “We estimate that the remaining section will definitely cost around N$1 billion because of the interchange, the bridges and rehabilitation of the roads. At the end of the day it may cost around N$2.5 billion,” said Lutombi. Section three of the dual carriageway was completed last month.
“This section covers the road from Brakwater to the Döbra River and it was upgraded to a dual carriageway. This section covers about 10 kilometres. In addition to that, it also covers about six to seven kilometres of the service road,” said Lutombi.
Lutombi explained that section three was initially going to cost N$200 million and end at the police checkpoint. The cost increased because of roadworks beyond the police checkpoint.
“We also added the service road and the project was then revised to N$335 million. So far that is the amount this project has cost,” said Lutombi. He pointed out that the construction of section three was not completed on deadline and the main contractor was penalised. “It went beyond the completion time but what we have to indicate here is to say contractually if a contractor goes beyond time there are penalties on this project until the completion date,” said Lutombi.
He said the road will be equipped with speed-monitoring cameras to discourage drivers from speeding.
“If you travel along the road you will find yellow cameras and we are putting those cameras where we see there are black spots or areas where there are accidents. That is just to monitor the speed and probably put other interventions to calm the speed,” said Lutombi.
The road will have two interchanges and will be fitted with cat eyes to enhance road visibility, he added.
SHONA NGAVA
The first section of the dual carriageway connects the Western Bypass to Auas Road and runs all the way up to Brakwater. The second section runs from Brakwater to a bridge over the Döbra River.
The third section runs to a permanent police checkpoint that is yet to be established. The fourth section will be from the checkpoint to the Okahandja-Otjiwarongo interchange.
According to Lutombi, N$1.4 billion has been spent on the project so far. The last section of the dual carriageway will cost approximately N$1 billion. “We estimate that the remaining section will definitely cost around N$1 billion because of the interchange, the bridges and rehabilitation of the roads. At the end of the day it may cost around N$2.5 billion,” said Lutombi. Section three of the dual carriageway was completed last month.
“This section covers the road from Brakwater to the Döbra River and it was upgraded to a dual carriageway. This section covers about 10 kilometres. In addition to that, it also covers about six to seven kilometres of the service road,” said Lutombi.
Lutombi explained that section three was initially going to cost N$200 million and end at the police checkpoint. The cost increased because of roadworks beyond the police checkpoint.
“We also added the service road and the project was then revised to N$335 million. So far that is the amount this project has cost,” said Lutombi. He pointed out that the construction of section three was not completed on deadline and the main contractor was penalised. “It went beyond the completion time but what we have to indicate here is to say contractually if a contractor goes beyond time there are penalties on this project until the completion date,” said Lutombi.
He said the road will be equipped with speed-monitoring cameras to discourage drivers from speeding.
“If you travel along the road you will find yellow cameras and we are putting those cameras where we see there are black spots or areas where there are accidents. That is just to monitor the speed and probably put other interventions to calm the speed,” said Lutombi.
The road will have two interchanges and will be fitted with cat eyes to enhance road visibility, he added.
SHONA NGAVA
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