Africa-Press – Namibia. THE Rundu Town Council has announced the temporary closure of Sam Nujoma Drive due to its poor condition.
• PETRUS MURONGA
The council says the road will be closed for three months to allow its rehabilitation.
The council last week published a notice in the media informing residents of the road closure.
“The public is hereby informed that the 2,8km section of the road will be closed for three months as from 18 February until 20 May,” the notice reads.
The council says the Roads Authority (RA), in conjunction with the Road Fund Administration (RFA), is assisting it with the rehabilitation project’s design, costing and management.
“Regular users and affected residents are hereby informed to use alternative streets to reach their homes and workplaces,” the council says.
The council urged members of the public to support it in completing the project and to exercise patience.
Sam Nujoma Drive has been damaged for over two years, forcing motorists to drive on the shoulder of the road.
The council was recently put on the spot by RFA chief executive officer (CEO) Ali Ipinge and the minister of works and transport, John Mutorwa, for not utilising funds allocated to it by the RFA to maintain roads.
Rundu CEO Olavi Nathanael says: “What we agreed on with the RFA is that they are giving us a budget on condition that we take engineers from the RA to supervise the project. The procurement will be done by the RA, which is going to appoint the contractors and project supervisors.”
The RA has appointed Element Consulting Engineers to supervise the project.
Nathanael says the council has also appointed Namibia Investment Contracts to carry out the rehabilitation of streets at the town.
He says the council will rehabilitate roads damaged by potholes through its appointed contractor with the assistance of the RA.
RA spokesperson Hileni Fillemon confirmed that an agreement was made with the council to render the necessary assistance.
“Yes, the RA was requested to give technical assistance to the Rundu Town Council in conjunction with the RFA, and the consulting engineers have not been appointed yet,” Fillemon said.
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