6 000 km of new roads since independence
Category General
Walvis Bay Corridor Group
Namibia's road sector has increased the road network from 42 000 kilometers in 1990 to 48 000 km by 2018. Finance Minister, Honourable Calle Schlettwein revealed this in a speech read on his behalf at the opening of the Africa Road Maintenance Fund Association (ARMFA) meeting for the Southern Focal Group.
Schlettwein said the majority of this growth has been on the bitumen sealed roads. "These and the continuous investment in the upkeep of our road network enabled Namibia to incubate quality road infrastructure that is ranked at 28th place globally out of the 140 countries assessed in the 2018 Global Competitiveness Report", he explained.
He went on to say that amongst some of the flagship road projects that Namibia is currently undertaking are the construction of dual carriageway between Windhoek and Okahandja, Windhoek to Hosea Kutako International Airport, Swakopmund to Walvis Bay and Swakopmund to Henties Bay eventually linking to Kamanjab.
In response to the need to promote trade and economic growth through the road network, Schlettwein highlighted that Namibia has in particular invested heavily in improving the various transport corridors such as Trans Zambezi, Trans Kunene and Trans Kalahari. "Namibia has also invested in the expansion and deepening of the major Port of Walvis Bay so as to ensure efficient intermodal transport to and from the region", he noted.
Formerly landlocked countries have become land-linked countries through improved road networks and dry ports. "The completion of these projects will greatly improve traffic mobility, road safety and movements of goods", he said.
Author: Bay Self Catering
