24 Mar 2014

 Parliament has been informed that the dry grading and re-gravelling of Lentsweletau/Molepolole Road was outsourced at a cost of P4 921.439.88

Responding to a question from the MP for Kweneng East, Major General Moeng Pheto, the Minister of Transport and Communications Mr Nonofo Molefhi said the contract period was 12 months from June 4, 2012 to June 3, 2013.

He explained that the scope of works included, dry-grading three times a month, installation of a culvert, re-gravelling of 14 kilometres of the road to thickness of 300 mm and construction of wing walls for 22 existing culverts on both sides.

Minister Molefhi said the project was implemented in line with laid down guidelines on the Botswana Road Maintenance Manual (BRMM) and payments were made subsequent to monthly meetings to check the work done by the contractor.

He said inspections of the roads were done on weekly basis and that the latest week inspection was done on March 17. The minister further stated that the findings were that, like any other roads, it was damaged by the recent rains especially where water crosses the road.

He said the road was last graded on February 17 to 21 this year, but grading was not completed due to grader breakdown and 12 kilometres was left ungraded.

However, he said his ministry hoped to complete the grading by would be delivered by March 21.Major General Moeng Pheto had asked the minister to state the cost of the last re-gravelling of Lentsweletau/Molepolole road.

The minister was also to state whether the project was cost effective and properly implemented and whether the road in question has been inspected this year; if so; what were the findings. Ends