CHAMWE KAIRA
The Roads Authority plans to upgrade the Auas Road in Windhoek. The project involves the upgrade of the road to a double carriage way from the Sean McBride intersection to the Mandume Ndemufayo Intersection, with a new taxi rank.
The aim of the project is to improve the traffic flow on this portion of road, which is currently congested, especially during peak traffic. The RA has appointed Lithon Project Consultants to conduct the design, and construction supervision of the project.
Enviro Dynamics has been appointed to conduct the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for the project, in line with the Environmental Management Act and its regulations.
The project involves the widening of Auas Road from the intersection with Sean McBride Street, to the intersection with Mandume Ndemufayo Road, to a dual carriageway and the upgrading of the intersections along this portion of Auas Road, with robots.
The project will also see the introduction of a new intersection to link Aviation Road and Springbok Road and the introduction of a taxi rank.
It is anticipated that construction will commence in June, once Environmental Clearance has been issued.
The existing traffic on this route will continue to be accommodated during the construction process as with the north bound dual lane being constructed west of the existing road, keeping the existing road open for traffic.
The eastern (existing) south bound dual lane will be upgraded, while traffic uses the new western dual lanes both ways.
Major institutions on or near Auas Road include Namcor, Ministry of Mines and Energy, Mercure Hotel (Safari Hotel) and Eros Airport.
Namibia has a well-established road network of 49,202.92 kilometers, where road construction and maintenance adhere to international standards. In road infrastructure, the country is rated as one of the vest the continent by the World Economic Forum.
According to the Roads Authority Strategic Business Plan 2022/23-2026, the absolute minimum road maintenance requirements have increased from N$ 3.9 billion per annum for routine maintenance, reseal, rehabilitate, re-gravel and update of the national road network.
The RFA is only able to fund N$ 2.8 billion under the business plan, with the inclusion of loan funding. Therefore, widening the funding shortfall from N$ 1.3 billion to N$ 1.5 billion in the following budget year.
