Gaborone-Phakalane link road complete
Staff Writer | Tuesday October 4, 2016 14:55
The project was a design and build project awarded to Bothakga Burrow Botswana in conjunction with Landmark Projects while Arid Environment Consultancy was responsible for developing and monitoring the environmental Management Plan of the project.
Speaking at the recent handover ceremony, the former Minister of Lands and Housing, Prince Maele expressed gratitude noting that the project, which was the first under the Economic Stimulus Package (ESP) in his ministry, has been completed on time and on budget.
“During its construction, this road led to creation of 83 temporary jobs for Batswana, hence achieving one of the ESP objectives,” he said.
According to Maele, the strategic initiative that led to the construction of the road was motivated by slow traffic movement through A1 from Phakalane suburb and other areas in the northern part of Gaborone. He said the project is expected to ease the transportation of goods and services through the corridor, which has been problematic within a short distance to markets in Gaborone.
“The roads in these areas, especially as they lead into Gaborone are always busy and seriously constrained in coping with current traffic levels,” he said.
The single lane all-weather road starts from the end of Limpopo Drive at the Glen Valley Garrison’s south gate, through the Marapoathutlwa water course and Green-belt around the existing Phakalane sewerage ponds facilities and pump station and joining Phakalane township at David Magang Avenue.
He said the link is expected to provide an alternative and more convenient access route from Gaborone to Glen Valley, Oodi, Matebele, Mochudi, Gaborone North, Phakalane and other surrounding areas.
“In order to further ease traffic flow into Gaborone city, the road upgrading has included the replacement of the Tsholofelo/BBS traffic circle and the Ginger traffic circle with four-way signalised intersections in anticipation of the increased traffic on this road,” Maele said.
In addition, he said the project has also opened other economic opportunities noting that access to horticultural farms in Glen Valley will be easy. He also said that his ministry is currently considering opening other economic developmental activities along the road.
“This will for sure unleash the potential for this corridor as an economic hub between Gaborone and Phakalane,” he said.