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Three bridges planned in Ovitoto area
SHAKE ON IT ... Engelhardt Haihambo (left), chief executive officer of the Roads Contractor Company (RCC), and Conrad Lutombi, acting chief executive officer of the Roads Authority (RA), yesterday signed an agreement to build three bridges in the Ovitito area in Otjozondjupa region.
THE Roads Authority (RA) has entered into a N$63-million contract with the Roads Contractor Company (RCC) for the construction of bridges over three rivers along a district gravel road in the Ovitoto area.
About 150 job opportunities will be created for Namibians living in the area during the 12 months the project is expected to take.
The construction of the bridges will be done at three rivers, namely the Bobbejaan, Niehaus and Swakop rivers, which are located on the district road (DR) 2102 that turns off from the B1 road approximately 59 km north of Windhoek.
This district road links the settlement of Ovitoto with Okahandja and it also serves as an access to the Von Bach Dam, communal and commercial farms as well as to various game reserves in the area of Ovitoto.
In addition to the three bridges, 12 additional smaller drainage structures will also be constructed along this district gravel road.
“We expect nothing short of excellent quality work,” the RA’s acting chief executive officer, Conrad Lutombi, said yesterday, adding that Government will be paying for the entire project.
Lutombi said during the rainy season each year, the settlement of Ovitoto is cut off from essential services at Okahandja. The successful construction of the three bridges and the other 12 drainage structures will minimise the dangers posed during the rainy season and greatly improve accessibility from the settlement of Ovitoto to Okahandja, he said.
Windhoek-based Element Consulting Engineers is the consulting engineering company on the project.
The official groundbreaking ceremony to start work on the three bridges will take place today at the Swakop River along the DR 2102 gravel road near Ovitoto.
The ceremony will coincide with the official launch of Phase Two of the Ovitoto Development Committee’s Road Improvement Programme.
This year the RA, which is entrusted with the provision of road infrastructure throughout the country, also inaugurated the upgraded dual lane Divundu Bridge in the Kavango Region.
It is now busy with the construction and rehabilitation of both the Ongwediva and Okandjengedi bridges in the Oshana Region, which will be completed soon. Next month, the parastatal will begin with the rehabilitation and repair work on the road between Rehoboth and Mariental in the Hardap Region.
– Nampa
