The Roads Authority (RA) does of course have a budget in place for routine maintenance, which will be used to repair some recently damaged roads and to address road vulnerabilities exposed during recurring heavy rains. However, the RA’s long-term strategy includes rebuilding and upgrading major road sections as well as installing drainage structures to mitigate future floods. For this, the RA says it will consult the Road Fund Administration and the Ministry of Works and Transport for additional funding to implement this long-term strategy, according to spokesperson, Hileni Fillemon.
“We have our maintenance teams on standby in all the regions to attend to any road damages in the shortest possible time. Thus, our strategy is to immediately attend to the roads that are damaged, via our emergency repair programme, to restore accessibility for the road users. If a road is damaged severely and cannot be repaired within a limited time, we will offer the public alternative routes, which will be communicated to the public accordingly,” Fillemon explained.
Meanwhile, the RA will conduct a full cost assessment of rain damaged roads only at the end of the rainy season to include all the regions. Currently, most of the damaged roads are in the southern part of the country where priority will be given. This includes the B1 route (Trunk Road TR 1/2 ): Grünau to Keetmanshoop road; Main Road (MR) 27 or tourist Route C16: From Keetmanshoop to Aroab; Main Road 29 (MR 29): gravel road from Keetmanshoop to Mariental via Vaalgras; and Main Road 22 (MR 22) & District Road 271 (D271): Gravel roads from Noordoewer to Karasburg. Fillemon added that the RA will also attend to the section on the Tsumeb to Otavi road that was recently flooded.
According to the RA, no bridges were damaged by the rainwater. However, the authority is currently repairing road shoulders damaged near the Guruchab River Bridge on the Keetmanshoop- Grunau road. Also, a low water structure at Warmbad was damaged, however, access is expected to be restored in due course as plans are underway to replace the structure with a permanent bridge.
Said Fillemon: “The RA is working around the clock to inspect and assess the condition of the roads and to erect warning signs at damaged sections accordingly. Where possible, we will ensure that emergency repair works are done to allow access to the public. We would once again like to appeal to all road users to exercise extra caution and be vigilant on their journeys, especially in areas where we have received good rains.”