21 Mar 2017

Acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC), Mr Gaolatlhe Dipholo has urged the Gaborone-Boatle Road contractors to deliver the project on time.

Speaking at the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement for the upgrading of the Gaborone-Boatle Road and a great separation at Boatle recently, Mr Dipholo said the project would be undertaken through the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP).

“This project should not in any way attract some cost overruns,” he said.

He said the project entailed upgrading of the existing 18.4km long Gaborone/Boatle road into a dual carriage way, associated drainage works, construction of pedestrian and cattle underpasses, installation of street lighting, construction of traffic signals at the junction to Kgale Mews, construction of the Tlhwane and Metsimaswaane Bridges and construction of a separated interchange at Boatle, which will help decongest traffic from Gaborone to Boatle.

For his part, MTC deputy permanent secretary, Mr Isaac Moepeng said during construction, the constructor would not consider alternative routes or complete closure of the road to ease traffic disruptions, rather they would create a diversion, which allows working parallel to the running traffic.

Mr Moepeng said according to the consultant, the contractor was going to employ between 800 and 1 000 people mostly Batswana.

He also said the tender requirements stipulated that 30 per cent of the contract work should be given to citizens.

On behalf of contractors, Mr Talal El-Ali said they had pulled together technical staff from both joint ventures in order to pursue the project.

“We promise to deliver this project on time and within budget,” Mr El-Ali said.

The project has been awarded to Consolidated Contractors Company (Kuwait) and W.L.L/China State Construction Engineering Corporation joint venture at a construction sum of P1 069 836 219.

Supervisory works will be done by Bothakga Burrow Botswana at a cost of P29 585 864. Construction is expected to take 24 months to complete. ENDS