Mabeo opens Francistown- Tonota dual carriage way
Lesedi Mkhutshwa | Friday September 16, 2016 15:31
The Francistown-Tonota road was authorised for traffic usage during the Minister’s tour of MTC projects in Francistown. After the tour of the Francistown-Tonota dual road, Mabeo disclosed that the official opening of the road would be done after the completion of the Thapama interchange also known as the ‘spaghetti junction’.
“We will make all the requirements so that the road is officially opened,” he said. He said that allowing the motorists to use the road would enhance traffic flow and ease congestion during peak hours.
Mabeo added that free traffic moving along the dual road would result in traffic congestion in the city.
He urged the team to work together to ensure that by February the Thapama interchange is completed as promised by the contractor.
He expressed displeasure towards the extension of the completion date of the project. He urged the contractor to come up with catch up measures, to speed up production and finish the project.
He added that the project should be of excellent quality work.
The Minister noted that the completion of the interchange would bring investment opportunities to the city and become a potential tourist attraction site. He noted that the remaining yards near the construction site should relocate for safety measures and for making it easier for the contractor to do their job. When giving a brief on the progression of the Thapama interchange Pula consultant director Carthage Matlhaga pledged that the Thapama interchange will be finished on February 2017.
He said the progress of Thapama interchange stands at 49%.
Matlhaga said the project had been delayed by the relocation of properties belonging to the Botswana Telecommunications Corporation Limited (BTCL), Botswana Fibre Networks (BoFiNet) and Water Utilities Corporation (WUC).
He said Somerset East residents also hindered progress whose relocation from the construction area was slow.
The project commenced in the third quarter of 2015 and was expected to be complete in August 2016.