31 Aug 2016

Boatle junction will be constructed into an interchange commonly referred to as ‘spaghetti’ during the upgrading of Gaborone-Boatle road.

Gaborone-Boatle road will be constructed into a dual carriage road under the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) projects.

Bothakga Barrow project engineer, Mr Thabo Moeti said on Tuesday during an address to the South East District full council session that the interchange would help reduce traffic which is common at Boatle junction during peak hours.

He said they were hopeful that construction of the interchange would not affect nearby businesses, adding that the interchange would be moved from the current junction to minimise compensation costs.

Mr Moeti, whose company has been appointed the project consultants, said the road will be constructed into a dual carriage from Game City to Boatle.

Apart from the interchange, he explained that there would also be streetlights from Game City to Boatle, while pedestrian footpaths will end at St Joseph College.

Mr Moeti said during the construction of the dual carriage road, the current road would remain in use.

For his part, department of roads and transport chief roads engineer, Mr Kitso Chubele said they expected the tender to be awarded this month and the road construction would take two years to complete.

He said employment creation prospects stood at 400 people during the construction, emphasising that the local people will benefit from the construction. He added that ESP projects were instituted to create employment and boast local communities.

Further, he told the councillors that Boatle-Ramotswa road has not been included under ESP, but in the National Development Plan 11.

During comments, councillors appreciated the project and said it is a welcome development in their district.

However, some called for the upgrading of Boatle-Ramotswa road, saying they anticipated increased traffic flow after the opening of

Ngotwane Bridge and the construction of a dual carriage road to Gaborone from Boatle. ENDS