30 Mar 2014

Ngamiland District commissioner, Ms Bernadette Malala has appealed to councillors to wait for a report from experts who had been tasked with assessing the Thamalakane Bridge project before drawing conclusions.

Responding to comments made by councillors at a recent briefing by the District Development Committee, Ms Malala said the report would indicate the way forward. Councillors had complained about the delays at the project and the quality of work done.

“We must be patient because this bridge is meant to improve traffic flow and it will be one of the main access routes into Maun,” she said. Councillors were shocked to learn that the project, which was to be completed next month, was behind schedule and was at 44 per cent.

The project is now anticipated to be completed by the end of August due to delays caused by various factors. Ms Malala also revealed that the design review of the Mhembo Bridge would commence in May and was expected to take four months.

She said tendering for construction of the project would start after the review has been approved. The house was also told that a detailed investigation of structural integrity of Toteng Bridge was ongoing.

The bridge is reportedly old, but is used frequently by heavy traffic as it lies along the gravel road to Toteng mine. Councillors were informed that re-construction of the old Toteng bridge would be done in-house. The project is expected to be complete by the end of this month.

Councillors were also informed that the rehabilitation of Maun/Sehithwa road would include resealing and construction of culverts along the Kunyere River in Toteng, surfacing of sections at Setatunga as well as other drainage improvements. The project is expected to start at the beginning of the 2014/15 financial year.

A site visit was conducted in January and the project is still at the tendering stage. The PPADB was expected to make an award decision on 21st March.

Ms Malala also told councillors that the 70km Tsau/Nokaneng road would be rehabilitated by overlaying and improving its width. She said the tender document has been submitted to PPADB for vetting.

An official from the Department of Roads, Mr David Bogatsu assured councillors that projects would be supervised and monitored after they questioned the quality of projects undertaken in-house. The council chairpersdon, Mr Lathang Molonda also raised concern about pot holes at the Toteng old bridge and along the Tsau/Nokaneng road. Ends