OKAHANDJA – Despite the many disruptions and delays caused by Covid-19 and late funding, the Roads Authority (RA) has managed to contain the costs of the Okahandja-Windhoek road project well within the budgeted N$3 billion.
This was shared by RA CEO Conrad Lutombi during last Thursday’s site visit to the multi-phase Okahandja-Windhoek road project, where he was joined by various RA senior officials as well as the contractors, who provided an in-depth update on the state and progress of the road.
Lutombi said the RA has so far spent close to N$2 billion on the project, which will soon see the road progressing from the Omakunde interchange to the Gross Barmen interchange by the end of next month – and then eventually fully reaching Okahandja by May next year.
“Hopefully, by August or the end of August this year, we plan to open the section from the Omakunde interchange to the Gross Barmen interchange, so that our people can start enjoying these roads and the associated benefits. But remember, this project is part of a network of planned roads countrywide, and we want to ensure that all planned roads are completed by next year. We plan to complete this particular project by May 2024. This project, along with the others, is part of the Harambee Prosperity Plan, that’s why they have to be finished within the prescribed period,” said Lutombi.
For the overall completion of the Windhoek-Okahandja road, whose construction started in 2016, Lutombi said they have so far managed to remain within budget and will continue to ensure that they keep within the N$3 billion budget for the remaining part of the project.
“Obviously, we have had a number of challenges, including the disruptions caused by Covid and sometimes delayed funding from government, which at times forced us to suspend the work or slowdown in certain areas. We also had to deal with the relocation of people in certain areas, where the road was supposed to pass – but luckily, with the assistance of the town council, those issues were sorted out. As for materials, the contractors are hauling materials from long distances, with some coming from as far as Karibib and other towns,” he added.
The road is being upgraded from a dual carriageway to a four-lane freeway, and it is being constructed by Otesa, a local construction company, and Italian firm Cooperativa Muratori Cementisti Ravenna.
Otesa has a 60% shareholding in the project, while Cooperativa Muratori Cementisti Ravenna owns 40%.
Besides the Windhoek-Okahandja road project, the RA has also embarked on the completion of the Windhoek-Rehoboth, Windhoek-Hosea Kutako International Airport, Walvis Bay-Swakopmund, Omuthiya-Ondangwa and the Ondangwa-Oshakati freeways, with the completion date for all roads set for May next year.
The nationwide expansion of road networks is part of the RA’s N$15 billion Integrated Strategic Business Plan, which runs from the 2022/23 financial year until the 2026/27 fiscal year.
The mega N$15 billion plan is being funded through the Road Fund Administration (RFA), which is expected to deliver N$10.27 billion, while government will provide N$2.78 billion, and N$1.22 billion will be expected to come from loans and grants.
The plan, Lutombi further shared, amongst others, targets to upgrade 700km of national roads to bitumen standards and construct another 215km of roads to gravel standards, while 410km worth of national road networks will be fully rehabilitated.
Other roads that are not unsurfaced and are in an unacceptable condition will be reduced from 49% to at least 38%.