23 Mar 2014

Some residents of Francistown have expressed anxiety about construction of the Tonota/Francistown Road particularly the envisaged interchange that will replace the circle commonly known as Thapama circle.

The residents expressed their uneaseness during a stakeholder forum addressed by the road consultants in partnership with the roads department on March 21 at the Civic Centre.

One of the residents who is also Somerset East Ward Development Committee chairperson, Mr Molaodi Maiketso implored the consultants to ensure comprehensive survey especially at the site where the interchange will be constructed.

Mr Maiketso explained that Francistown was surrounded by abandoned mines that could pose a danger if a comprehensive soil survey would not done. However, Mr Maiketso thanked the government for the road and the interchange, which would be the first of its kind in the country.

Ms Theresa Mmolawa called on thorough supervision of the construction of the road to ensure world class standards were adhered to. She lamented that due to lack of supervision and monitoring, the country experienced substandard projects such as the Shakawe senior school and Palapye glasswork factory.

She said she was worried about all major projects given to Chinese companies yet they had proved to be incompetent. For his part, Pula Consultancy official, Mr Obusitswe Keitheile assured the residents that soil sampling and other thorough assessments were on-going to ensure that the site would be suitable for the interchange.

Earlier, Mr Keitheile said the road project which was on-going will eliminate traffic congestion, improve safety of road users, increased junction capacity and will also improve run off drainage.

He said the purpose of the consultation was to accord the residents of Francistown opportunity to make suggestion about the project and even see the design of the anticipated interchange.

Earth Tec Consultants Environmentalist, Ms Tshepiso Ngwenya said out of the 43 people who were earmarked to pave way for the road construction, only 36 have been compensated, while one person who allegedly owns four plots has not yet been found.

Mr Ontlametse Kgakge, a Senior Roads Engineer and project officer for the road construction thanked the residents for their suggestions and implored them to continue consulting with his department on all issues regarding the project.

He said the project’s expected completion date is October 2015 but noted that construction was delayed due to the recent heavy rains.  ENDS