The roads Authority is expanding its road infrastructure upgrades to the Hardap, //Kharas and Khomas regions in an effort to achieve inclusive, equitable and sustainable economic growth.
Roads Authority engineer Timo Hatuikulipi said this is in line with the revised master plan, which entails rectifying imbalances in the provision of social and economic road infrastructure.
He said this at Keetmanshoop on Tuesday during a workshop on identifying road infrastructure development needs in the //Kharas region.
“We have to do a scientific investigation. Sometimes a road may not be economically feasible, but the social impact could be great for the region. The //Karas, Hardap and Khomas regions have been identified and will form part of the revised master plan,” said Hatuikulipi.
Previously, the emphasis of the company has been on strengthening the country’s position as a transport and logistics hub, thus the completion of the upgrading of the Windhoek-Okahandja road to a dual carriageway and the upgrading of the Swakopmund-Henties Bay-Kamanjab road were prioritised.
Other projects include the upgrading of the Swakopmund-Walvis Bay road to a dual carriageway, the upgrading of the Windhoek-Hosea Kutako International Airport road to a dual carriageway and the completion of the Gobabis-Aranos road.
Current envisaged projects in the //Kharas region include the construction of the B1 road from Tses to Grünau, the Keetmanshoop to Aroab road and the Tses to Berseba road.
//Kharas governor Aletha Frederick said these roads are pivotal projects as they are more than mere pathways, they represent lifelines that connect the people to opportunities, resources and essential services.
“The importance of robust road infrastructure cannot be overstated. It serves as a backbone for economic activities, enabling trade and commerce, while fostering accessibility to education and healthcare facilities.
“We have invited a wide range of stakeholders to assist us in brainstorming innovative solutions that will address both current challenges and future aspirations regarding road development.
Your insights and expertise are invaluable as we seek to prioritise new road infrastructure needs alongside other critical improvements,” said Frederick.
She expressed confidence that the gathering designed as an inclusive platform to engage in meaningful dialogue about the region’s infrastructure needs would contribute towards shaping a strategic approach for developing a comprehensive road infrastructure plan for the //Kharas region.
“Improved roads can significantly reduce travel time and costs, thereby enhancing productivity across various sectors. However, achieving these improvements requires collaboration among all stakeholders involved – government entities, private sector partners, community leaders and civil society organisations,” the governor said.
As part of the revised master plan, which is aligned to NDP5 and NDP6, the company is tasked with upgrading 1 850km of road to bitumen standards, 977,7km road constructed to gravel standards, and 1242km road rehabilitated. A further 4 600km of road requires resealing and 6 800km requires re-gravelling.
The upgraded master plan states that the majority of towns and communities should be accessed by road, but because of persistent under-funding over the years, the quality of the network is deteriorating due to sub-optimal maintenance work.
“The paved road network is in need of intensive rehabilitation and continuous resealing to preserve the functional integrity of the bituminous surface.
Meanwhile, the condition of the gravel road network continued to rapidly deteriorate over the past decade, whereby 49% of the gravel roads are in a poor to very poor condition and 16% of the wearing course is left,” says the master plan.
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