08 Feb 2021

Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services, Mr Kefentse Mzwinila says the Aerodrome link road project is meant to connect Gerald Estate and the City of Francistown through the Aerodrome area.

Mr Mzwinila said the project was necessitated by an EIA report which was done during the design of the Gerald Block 1 and CBD project which was completed in March 2016.

He highlighted that the traffic study suggested an alternative route to be sought to facilitate traffic flow to and from Gerald.

The MP for Francistown South, Mr Winter Mmolotsi had asked the minister to appraise Parliament on the Somerset West Industrial and Gerald link road construction.

Mr Mzwinila said the scope of the project was divided into two components, with component one including a proposed bridge over-rail for Sowa railway line, dual carriageway road, culverts and solar street lights and traffic lights from Gerald Estate roundabout and city of Francistown linking at A3 with 3.9km of road.

He said component two included servicing of 87 plots at Phase IV industrial which covered 3.55km of roads and 900m of asphalt overlay on the industrial bypass.

Mr Mzwinila noted that in July 2019 SRR Engineers was awarded to undertake design, review and suspension for both components at a contract sum of P5 885 375

He said the consultancy commenced in August 2019 and a report was submitted in May 2020 with recommendations of additional scope for component 1.

“At the moment the design and review for component 1 is yet to be concluded pending the consideration and approval of the additional scope.

The consideration and approval of the recommended additional scope of the design and review for component 1 were planned to be completed by February 2021,” he said.

Mr Mzwinila said the design and review for component two were completed and approved in May 2020. He noted that the tender documents for component two were still at the vetting stage in anticipation to be floated in March 2021.

He said the period of construction for component two was anticipated to be nine months, and that the total estimated costs for both components of the project was P82 000 000. ENDS