Otjiwarongo: The N.dollars 71 million rehabilitation and resurfacing of 28 streets in Otjiwarongo is nearing completion, with the project handover to the municipality expected in a few weeks. The progress was confirmed during a recent site visit, where engineers from the Road Fund Administration (RFA) expressed satisfaction with the work done.
According to Namibia Press Agency, the rehabilitation project, funded by the RFA and supported technically by the Roads Authority (RA), was necessitated by damage caused by heavy rainfall in January this year. RFA engineer Jonas Kafidi expressed satisfaction with progress on the project and told officials the newly upgraded roads will be handed over to the municipality in a few weeks. "We are pleased with the job. It was completed within the timeframe and allocated resources in accordance with the implementation plan," he said.
Kafidi was accompanied by RFA Corporate Services Manager Ferdinand Molale; RA engineer Johann Essmann; engineers from Element consulting company, headed by Paulus Shalongo; and officials from the Otjiwarongo Municipality, led by the Chief Executive Officer, Mberipura Hifitikeko. The upgrading activities began in April this year and are being carried out by the China Henan International Cooperation Organisation (Chico). Chico project manager, Wang Lin, confirmed that the project is nearing completion and said the remaining work largely consists of road markings.
The project covered 16 kilometres, comprising 5.98 kilometres of full rehabilitation and 9.8 kilometres of resurfacing and slight resealing. Hifitikeko highlighted the necessity of the repairs, stating that some of the deteriorated roads were 'beyond the normal routine maintenance.' "The selected roads had gone under complete reconstruction, including strengthening their base and improving drainage systems to extend the lifespan of the roads to about 20 years," he said.
The work included replacing the old tar with new asphalt on roads like Dr Libertina Amathila Avenue, Bahnhof Street, and Kandara Church Street. Other roads, including Rikumbi Kandanga Road, River Street, Virmos Bar Street, Manuel Somseb Street, Simentaler Street, Wes Street, and Otjibricks Road, were completely rehabilitated.