68 bridges to be constructed in Oshana region

OSHAKATI – A total of 68 bridges are under construction or are being reconstructed in the Oshana region after damage from the severe floods the region suffered last year.

Oshana Regional Governor Clemens Kashuupulwa said this at Oshakati during a meeting of the Regional Disaster Risk Management Committee (RDRMC) for the region.

The bridges are on the existing district gravel roads to ensure an all-season link between the region’s urban and rural areas.

Kashuupulwa pointed out that 11 bridges (four completed) are to be constructed in the Oshakati East Constituency, five bridges (three completed) in the Uukwiyuushona Constituency, and 12 bridges on the new Okatana- Ongwediva-Onamutai road.

The rest of the bridges (40) are to be constructed on the district gravel roads of the Okaku Constituency, and only a few of the bridges planned for Okaku have been completed.

Kashuupulwa, however, noted that the construction of the bridges was delayed by the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.

The construction of the Ongwediva Bridge on the Ongwediva- Ondangwa main road is also under construction, while the construction of the Okandjengedhi Bridge at Oshakati will commence soon.

Kashuupulwa told the meeting that the Oshakati Concept Master Plan worth N$1.5 billion has been approved by Cabinet last month. The Master Plan will be implemented in three phases over a period of three years, depending on the availability of resources.

The Oshakati Concept Master Plan involves the re-planning of the town of Oshakati in order to mitigate the impact of floods that have been haunting the town and its residents for the past four years.

The RDRMC meeting of Wednesday also dealt with, among others, flood preparedness for this rainy season.

– Nampa