Rudolf Gaiseb
The City of Windhoek stands by its decision not to include curb cuts in front of residents’ houses along the Monte Christo Road which is being upgraded.
The City says it is hazardous and negligent to have curb cuts along a highway.
“Imagine on a highway, people are turning into their houses; on a highway, people are parked to be at shebeens. It is just too dangerous. So, it is for their own safety and for the pedestrians’ safety,” City spokesperson Harold Akwenye said.
Moreover, committed to improving road safety and traffic management along Monte Christo Road and as part of the expansion project, the City will construct traffic control measures, including signalised intersections (traffic lights), pedestrian crossings and appropriate road signs to enhance safety.
“Additionally, provisions for designated taxi ranks are part of the broader urban mobility plan, to ensure safer and more efficient public transport operations. These interventions are being evaluated in line with traffic assessments and urban planning requirements,” Akwenye added.
However, residents along the Monte Christo Road are up in arms against the City of Windhoek, claiming the road’s expansion and upgrade will disrupt their unfettered access.
As a result, they will not be able to enter or exit directly to and from the road.
During New Era’s visit to the site last week, some residents raised concerns about the design of the road, which will not provide residents along the road, including car owners and vendors, access to and from the road.
They alleged the City told them they should rather use the internal road [at the back of their houses].
This they say is while their houses, gates and doors all face the Monte Christo Road.
“Residents were aware from the outset that access to their properties was designed to be from the internal roads, not directly from Monte Christo. However, over time, unauthorised access points were created by the residents for their own convenience. The road expansion project is being implemented in accordance with approved urban planning and road safety standards, which do not permit direct access from a main arterial road,” Akwenye said upon enquiry.
New Era observed that some people have built interlocks along the road, which the City will allegedly do away with during their construction.
Akwenye said the interlocks, including permanent or temporary structures built within the municipal road reserve without municipal approval, are considered unauthorised developments.
“As such, the municipality will not provide any compensation for structures that were erected unlawfully within the expansion zone. Property owners were expected to adhere to existing building regulations when making any modifications adjacent to the public road,” he stated.
Raimo Angula (59), a resident along the road said he does not have a problem with his interlocks being removed without compensation during the expansion.
However, his only concern is the access to the road, as his garage and parking space are right next to the road.
“When I came here, just when I started building the house, I applied to the municipality for my entry to be on this side [facing the road]. They approved the plan and I built my house and installed interlocks. But after approving, they came back and said, ‘No, why did you put interlocks on this side? You cannot get the entrance on this side’,” he said.
Angula moved here in 1988 and submitted a plan to the municipality in 2005.
However, he claims after granting him the approval of a plan showing the exit of the house toward the Monte Christo Road and conducting inspections during the house’s construction, which started in the same year, they contested the exit afterwards.
-rrgaiseb@gmail.com