12 Sep 2022

The Rainbow intersection, which is expected to be fully operational in about two weeks, has been partially opened for traffic.

Briefing the media on Thursday, Botswana Integrated Transport Program (BITP) project coordinator, Mr Mmoloki Baele said as of Friday motorists would use the bridge underpass while works to connect the bridge to the main road were underway.

The Rainbow Intersection is part of the ongoing construction of three separate interactions at around Mass Media Complex, Game City Mall and Rainbow School.

However, Mr Baele said construction works at the three bridges was at different stages, adding that the Rainbow intersection was advanced at about ninety-eight per cent completion rate.

“This site should be done by the end of September and the rest of the sites should be complete at least by the end of December,” he said.

He explained that overall, construction  of the three intersections was about ninety-three per cent complete.

In addition, he said Rainbow intersection was the only one opened for traffic and that traffic either passed under the bridge or parallel to the bridge.

Furthermore, he said work that remained at the intersections would be minor civil works, as well as art works and landscaping to improve aesthetics of the bridge and permanent traffic signals.

Mr Baele said expenditure on the construction works of all the intersections was P32.5 million above the initial budget of P448 million.

“This is mainly because of the claims that come as a result of delays,” he added.

He said delays were due to challenges emanating from COVID-19 pandemic and relocation of services.

The contractor, he said had been given 18-months extension.

Mr Baele said the main purpose of the project was to alleviate traffic congestion which was caused by bottlenecks especially at the intersections within the city.

He said construction of the three bridges construction was aimed at reducing interruption of traffic along the Westernby pass highway.

The three intersections construction are part of the greater Gaborone multi-modal transport, which include the ongoing installation of new traffic signaling system and a centralised traffic control as well as layout improvements of intersections associated with the new traffic systems. ENDS