Rain collapses parts of Boatle interchange
Pauline Dikuelo | Tuesday November 8, 2022 15:32
Addressing the media earlier, the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Public Works Isaac Moepeng said last night there was an embankment at the interchange causing the bridge protection to collapse.
“We are still observing to find out what transpired. We have realised the visuals and haven’t conducted investigations as yet. Panels that were merged by seal have collapsed making it easy for water to penetrate and pass through. We have observed some cracks on the other side as well, which shows that the same situation might happen,” he said.
Moepeng said they are still going to come back, conduct a detailed analysis and assessment to determine the problem then compile a report and take it to the relevant authorities.
“We will then engage a contractor, preferably the one who did this project before to come and assist and fix this urgently. Structurally, the bridge is safe, however, we have decided to close the southbound on the dual carriageway which means motorists from Gaborone to Lobatse can use the upper lanes,” he said.
Even though officially opened this year in March, the interchange was open to the public in 2019. The interchange is part of the Gaborone A1 Highway dual carriageway, which has two bridges, the Game City one, and the Boatle one. The road project was awarded to CCC & CSCEC Joint Venture and Bothakga Burrow Botswana as supervising consultants.
“The project ended in 2019, then we entered into a defect liability period until 2020, whereby the contractor is on-site waiting to fix any defects at no cost to the employer," Moepeng said.