07 Oct 2019

Government will not tolerate any deviations from requirements set for the construction of the three intersections along KT Motsete Drive.

Speaking prior to performing the ground breaking ceremony for the project on October 7,  Minister of Transport and Communications Ms Dorcas Makgato said the P447 239 902 project should be completed on time and within budget.

In addition, it should be delivered to the specified quality.

The project, entailing the replacement of the Game City, Rainbow and BTV traffic roundabouts with intersections, has been awarded to a joint venture of Zhong Gan Engineering, China Jiangsu International and UNIK Construction.

It is scheduled for completion in October 2021.

The minister said the project was expected to improve the flow of traffic along KT Motsete Drive, commonly known as Western Bypass; which was a major conduit for both local and transiting traffic.

Ms Makgato said inevitable disruptions to traffic would be experienced as construction commenced but indicated traffic management measures would be put in place to alleviate congestion and guide road users accordingly.

The minister thus implored road users to follow temporary signage that would be put up at the three intersections.

She said regular public notices would be issued in the media to provide information on project activities.

Representing the contractors, Mr Justin Peng of Zhong Gan Engineering described the project as a historic milestone that would give Gaborone a major facelift.

He assured government that given the project’s importance to the economy of Gaborone, contractors would successfully deliver it and ensure that all specifications were met.

In addition, he said, the project would provide many job opportunities at its various stages.

Dr Antonis Stathopoulos of Nama Consulting Engineers and Planners, project consultants, said it would improve mobility in the city and also guarantee sustainability of the transportation system in Gaborone.

He revealed that the scope of the project extended to safeguarding existing areas from negative spill-over effects.

Dr Stathopoulos observed that with Gaborone evolving into a vibrant city, the project was timely as the need for seamless traffic flow was becoming more and more imperative.

Gaborone mayor, Mr Kagiso Thutlwe concurred that the project would improve traffic mobility in Gaborone noting that congestion was becoming the norm on the city’s roads.

 

Once completed, the project would also contribute to productivity improvement by reducing travel delays, he said. ENDS