Dual carriageway upgrade for Peter Nanyemba Road
The Minister of Urban & Rural Development Erastus Uutoni last week officiated at the groundbreaking ceremony for the upgrade of the Peter Nanyemba (former Monte Christo) Road.Peter Nanyemba Road runs from the Van Eck Power Station to the entrance of Ongos Valley and will receive a dual carriageway upgrade over the next 20 months.
According to Ongos Valley Chairperson Reagon Graig, “This upgrade will not only provide better access to Ongos Valley and avoid congestion on the road, but more importantly, it will promote socio-economic development for the entire community”.
He said that as per their estimates, the first residents are expected to move in by June, marking the beginning of a new era for Windhoek.
Chief executive of the Road Fund Administration, Ali Iipinge, said that the total cost of the road, which includes traffic lights, street lights, pavements, and future bus stop lanes, as well as the cost of relocating residents and building a new market, is estimated to be N$381 million. “The RFA is happy to see the initial funding of the project being undertaken by DBN and NIF2 which will then be settled by RFA at the end of the construction period.”
Speaking at the event, Uutoni said that government recognises infrastructure development as a catalyst for economic growth, and social progression and contributes significantly to global competitiveness and investment attraction. “It is a key enabler to unlock the development in local and regional jurisdictions,” he said.
The Ongos Valley Development is Namibia’s largest single residential undertaking earmarked to deliver 28 000 housing units over an estimated 20-year period. Phase 1 of the development will deliver 4 500 units and provide job opportunities to just over 14 000 people and transform Windhoek’s residential landscape. A key outcome of the development is the provision of access to services for the surrounding disadvantaged communities.