The multibillion-dollar Windhoek-Hosea Kutako International Airport Road Project is set to reach completion in September 2024, with the entire route to be officially open to the public by December of the same year.
The approximately N$3-billion road is being built in phases, with phase one already completed and phase 2A set for completion by December 2023.
Roads Authority CEO Conrad Lutombi says: “We anticipate Phase 2B, which is the final stage, to be done next year, thereafter open the entire route, and this is a must.”
The CEO made these remarks as he officially announced the reopening of the newly constructed road at Prosperita, constructed at a cost of N$28 million.
The road has been closed off for over a year as part of the Windhoek-Hosea Kutako International Airport upgrade phase one.
Phase one of the project, which included a stretch from the Rehoboth road at Cimbebasia to the western bypass, the Auas road, and the Mandume Ndemufayo intersection, was constructed at a cost of N$1 billion, including all costs.
Lutombi stated: “This is considered to be one of the biggest projects as a lot was done, from bridges to construction of interchanges. We have about six bridges and interchanges on this stretch, though very short. Hence today, the Prosperita road, including the wall, was constructed for N$28 million. After this, it will be handed over to the CoW for maintenance going forward.”
Phase 2A (19 km) and Phase 2B (21 km) are estimated to cost N$949 million and N$1.050 billion, respectively.
Lutombi noted, “Phase 2A starts from Auasblick to Dordabis intersection, while Phase 2B, which is the final stage, will be concluded by September 2024 and official opening of the whole route from Windhoek to the Airport in December, the same year.”
In addition to the completion of the airport road, the Roads Authority also plans to engage the City of Windhoek in upgrading the Safari Court and Truck port road into a dual carriageway to ease traffic congestion from the Mandume Ndemufayo intersection.
“We have done upgrades to the roads, more especially on the Auas interchange, which connects the Industrial area, where delays were experienced due to congestion. Now the challenge is between the Truck Port and Safari court, where the road converges into a single carriageway, thus causing a bottleneck in traffic flow,” said Lutombi.
“Therefore, if the City of Windhoek agrees, we will appreciate working together with them in order to expand the road and ease the congestion, as drivers spend hours trapped,” he added, emphasizing the importance of the project.
