Work on Karibib road resumes

WORK on the Okahandja-Karibib road resumed on Monday after construction workers took a break for the festive season.

The road between the two towns proved a frustrating stretch for many a holidaymaker on the way to and from the coast, with potholes and untarred patches abounding.
Roads Authority spokesperson Audrin Mathe said told The Namibian earlier this week that work on the 77-km stretch of road is 33 per cent complete.
The Ministry of Works and Transport embarked on the complete rehabilitation of the Okahandja-Karibib road in February last year after finding that the road surface had deteriorated to such an extent that simpler patch-up jobs were no longer sufficient.
The road was built between 1963 and 1964.
‘The construction progress is slightly behind the programmed schedule, but measures have already been taken to ensure that the project is back on track and will be completed on time,’ Mathe said.
The project is scheduled for completion by April next year. The road will be widened from 9,8 metres to 12,4 metres. Other improvements include passing lanes, improved intersections and accesses, as well as upgraded and additional rest areas along the road. For drainage purposes, lined side drains will be added.
Signs indicating speed limits and potholes proved effective on the road over the festive season, with no serious accidents reported on that stretch.
Several accidents and road deaths occurred on the smoother sections between Windhoek and Okahandja, and Okahandja and Otjiwarongo.