Whk roads construction no cause for concern yetSpeculation about traffic jams and closed roads has Windhoek motorists in a flurry about the construction of the Southern Bypass but this is still some time away. Southern Bypass build will only obstruct traffic in a few months Speculation about traffic jams and closed roads has Windhoek motorists in a flurry about the construction of the Southern Bypass but this is still some time away. With the current construction of the new Southern Bypass road in Windhoek there has been much speculation about routes that will be closed or narrowed, affecting traffic in the capital. Windhoek motorists and those commuting into the capital from the south need not be concerned, as the traffic accommodation plan will be submitted to the City’s traffic engineer and when approved the public will be duly informed.
The construction of the Southern Bypass started in earnest in January. The road will be upgraded to a dual-carriageway freeway from Mandume Ndemufayo Avenue up to the Sam Nujoma Road extension.
The existing Auas Road circle will be replaced by an interchange. The total project will take between 38 to 40 months and cost approximately N$900 million.
According to VKE Consulting Engineers the first construction that will have a real impact on motorists will only be within six to ten months and will affect Frank Fredericks Drive.
The consulting engineers say the two bridges across Frank Fredericks Drive are scheduled to be constructed within the next two months depending on the resources and progress of other bridges during the project.
Little impact is foreseen during the construction of the abutments and piers of the bridges, but when the decks are constructed within the next six months traffic on the two carriageways of Frank Fredericks will be channelled into one carriageway. This will impact the capacity of Frank Fredericks Drive.
“Traffic flow will be severely affected during peak hours and motorists are encouraged to make use of the Auas Road or Robert Mugabe Avenue,” according to VKE Consulting Engineers.
Meanwhile the engineers say that with regard to the construction on Robert Mugabe Avenue the impact and possible detours still need to be confirmed.
However the indication is that construction will likely commence after completing the bridges along Frank Fredericks Drive.
Motorists will therefore be encouraged to make use of Frank Fredericks Drive as an alternative route during this time.
Auas Road is scheduled for construction after the two bridges across Frankie Fredericks have been completed. The consultants say unless this is rescheduled construction will not be possible within the next 18 months to two years.
“It is too early to speculate about exact details but a temporary three-stop junction and detour aviation to the west of the existing roundabout in Auas Road will likely be the best temporary solution, which still needs to be agreed.”
According to the company traffic flow will be severely affected during peak hours and motorists are encouraged to make use of Frank Fredericks Drive during this time.
The consultants also said that with regard to access to the Windhoek Country Club, Academia Extension One and Prosperita traffic will remain on the existing road with at-level accesses secured until completion of the new southern carriageway.
This will take around 18 months and will include six new bridges, most of which will be at the planned interchange leading to Rehoboth.
Once traffic is redirected to the new southern carriageway the entrances to Prosperita, the Country Cub and Academia Extension One will remain available with detours. The exact details of such detours still need clarity.
VKE Consulting Engineers stressed that stakeholder meetings will be arranged in the near future as soon as more final details of exact scheduling of the works are available.
It will also consider distributing information brochures at the various access points or to key stakeholders for improved dissemination of information.
Superintendent Abraham Eiseb of the Windhoek City Police also confirmed that they have not yet been informed of any road closures or detours and said that a traffic accommodation plan first has to be approved at city level and they can come in as a control mechanism and the public will be properly informed.
ELLANIE SMIT