Underfunding delays three-lane highway
The Roads Authority has completed studies pertaining to the upgrade of the stretch of highway between Karibib and Swakopmund to a three-lane road.
This is according to Roads Authority spokesperson Hileni Fillemon who updated Namibian Sun on the grandiose plan to upgrade the 169-kilometre stretch of highway.
She said that the idea to upgrade the road to a three-lane road also known as the 2 + 1 standard is contained within the Harambee Prosperity Plan but could not give an outline as to when construction activities would start owing to cash constraints on government's part.
“The Karibib-Swakopmund road upgrade to a 2 + 1 is part of the Harambee Prosperity Plan. Thus far, we have completed the detailed design for the section from Karibib to Usakos. We are currently busy with the detailed design for the section from Usakos to Swakopmund. Construction of this project will commence as soon as funds are made available for this project,” she said.
The Okahandja-Karibib highway is at present the only 2 + 1 road and allows up to three vehicles to be on the road at a specific time on a specific portion of the road.
A 2+1 road is a specific category of three-lane road, consisting of two lanes in one direction and one lane in the other, alternating every few kilometres, and separated usually with a steel cable barrier.
Traditional roads of at least 13 metres in width can be converted to 2+1 roads and reach near-motorway safety levels at a much lower cost than an actual conversion to motorway or dual carriageway.
The Okahandja-Karibib 2 + 1 road was officially inaugurated by former works and transport minister Errki Nghimtina in 2012.
Construction costs for the 117-km stretch came in at just under N$424 million at the time of its completion.
The road forms part of the Trans-Kalahari corridor extending beyond Botswana into South Africa's Gauteng province.
OGONE TLHAGE
This is according to Roads Authority spokesperson Hileni Fillemon who updated Namibian Sun on the grandiose plan to upgrade the 169-kilometre stretch of highway.
She said that the idea to upgrade the road to a three-lane road also known as the 2 + 1 standard is contained within the Harambee Prosperity Plan but could not give an outline as to when construction activities would start owing to cash constraints on government's part.
“The Karibib-Swakopmund road upgrade to a 2 + 1 is part of the Harambee Prosperity Plan. Thus far, we have completed the detailed design for the section from Karibib to Usakos. We are currently busy with the detailed design for the section from Usakos to Swakopmund. Construction of this project will commence as soon as funds are made available for this project,” she said.
The Okahandja-Karibib highway is at present the only 2 + 1 road and allows up to three vehicles to be on the road at a specific time on a specific portion of the road.
A 2+1 road is a specific category of three-lane road, consisting of two lanes in one direction and one lane in the other, alternating every few kilometres, and separated usually with a steel cable barrier.
Traditional roads of at least 13 metres in width can be converted to 2+1 roads and reach near-motorway safety levels at a much lower cost than an actual conversion to motorway or dual carriageway.
The Okahandja-Karibib 2 + 1 road was officially inaugurated by former works and transport minister Errki Nghimtina in 2012.
Construction costs for the 117-km stretch came in at just under N$424 million at the time of its completion.
The road forms part of the Trans-Kalahari corridor extending beyond Botswana into South Africa's Gauteng province.
OGONE TLHAGE
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