11 Feb 2024

The Western Bypass road has not recorded any fatal accidents from January 15 to December 15 last year.

Minister of Transport and Public Works, Mr Eric Molale said while there were no fatalities around that period, eight fatal road accidents were recorded with nine fatalities from 2018 to 2022.

Of the nine fatalities, he said, three were pedestrians and that one occurred in 2018 while two were recorded in 2022. 

The minister said pedestrian safety remained a concern for his ministry along the by-pass

He, however, said there were no plans to construct overhead bridges along the by-pass, including at Block 5 and Phase 4 in the next financial year, adding that consideration would be made in NDP 12 in liaison with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.

Mr Molale also noted that there was a overhead pedestrian bridge and an underpass connecting the Bus Rank to Gaborone Central Business District (CBD) and the Fields Mall. 

He said the underpass was used by pedestrians and acted as a safe and convenient place to cross the road, adding that there was also a recent improved pedestrian underpass connecting the Bus Rank to the government enclave.

Minister Molale also said during the construction of the Fields Mall a covered pedestrian walkway was constructed for ease of passage from the mall to the underpass.

He said as part of the ongoing study to improve road access to the CBD, his ministry would further consider an underpass for public use linking the Bus Rank and the CBD and the refurbishment of pedestrian facilities.

Gaborone Bonnington South Member of Parliament, Mr Christian Greeff had asked the minister to brief Parliament on the strategy to achieve road safety in Gaborone. 

He also wanted him to state the total number of fatal road accidents and deaths of pedestrians hit by vehicles along the Western Bypass between Game City and Phase 4, Gaborone West and Block 5. He further asked the minister  if he would consider constructing an overhead bridge for pedestrians crossing along the Western By-pass between the Bus Rank and the Fields Mall, Block 5 and Phase 4. Ends