More dual carriageways on the cards

WALVIS BAY – More dual carriageways will be constructed from next year to reduce traffic congestion and road accidents, the Roads Authority (RA) has announced.

In addition to the Windhoek-Okahandja dual carriageway currently under construction, the RA plans to construct similar roads between Windhoek and the Hosea Kutako International Airport, as well as Windhoek and Rehoboth.

RA chief executive officer (CEO) Conrad Lutombi said in Walvis Bay during the official opening of a stakeholders’ meeting between the RA and the Road Development Agency (RDA) of Zambia.

He said another dual carriageway will be constructed between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay – this will be the salt road behind the dunes – while the main tarred road connecting the two coastal towns will be extended with a pedestrian path.

The road from Omuthiya to Ondangwa, proceeding to Ongwediva, will also be extended to a dual carriageway.

Lutombi said consultants are already appointed to design the roads and the construction will kick off as soon as all arrangements are in place.

“The idea is to ensure road safety and save lives. Imagine how many lives we lost in car accidents between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay. Enough is enough. That is why the government decided to construct dual carriageways,” he said.

The RA chief noted that it is also necessary for Namibia to start constructing more roads as the road traffic is increasing and in order to avoid worse traffic congestion in the future.

Lutombi could not reveal the approximate amount needed for this exercise, saying such information will only be revealed when all the plans are complete.

He, however, stated that this year an amount of N$3 billion will be spent for the construction and upgrading of roads nationwide.

Lutombi mentioned that overloading by trucks has been minimal this year, and he appealed to drivers and traffic officers to continue reducing overloading as it destroys roads.

“It is very important that we conserve our road infrastructure, as we have lost millions of dollars repairing damaged roads. Such money was supposed to be used for other development projects, such as constructing roads in the rural areas,” he said. – Nampa

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