According to the Roads Department’s, Chief Roads Engineer in the Ministry of Works and Transport, Barry Kemsley, “The traffic lights on the Pilane by-pass and Mochudi link road have already been installed, but efforts by African Consulting Engineers (ACE)- the department’s consultants - to commission Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) has experienced setbacks due to delays in the provision BPC’s supply of electricity,” Kemsley said recently.
He added that after the commissioning, the traffic lights will be handed over to the Kgatleng District Council for future operation and maintenance.
“Roads Department is responsible for the construction and maintenance of the dual carriageway. However the development of infrastructure other than the road along the carriageway rests with various other stakeholders like Gaborone City Council, its District Councils, Water Utilities Corporation, Botswana Telecommunications, and BPC,” he said.
The carriageway costs the department P200 million, which is inclusive of the design and supervision costs, and the 4.55 km of the Mochudi Link road.
Kemsley also told Mmegi that they expect BPC to provide the necessary electric connection to allow the lights to function in two weeks.
“The commissioning of the traffic lights will be effected within a week from the day the power is connected,” he said.
Afterwards, all the responsibility for operation and maintenance of the traffic lights, up to the Oodi Junction, will lie with the GCC, and beyond that point, responsibility will lie with the Kgatleng District Council.
“The existing Bokaa - Morwa road belongs to Kgatleng District Council. The scope of work included in the Gaborone - Rasesa road project was only improvement of the junction with traffic lights,” Kemsley said.
