The Roads Authority (RA) Chief Executive Officer is not impressed with the slow progress on the Engoyi-Omuntele road upgrade.

The road construction commenced in October last year and was to be completed by September this year.

On a site visit to the project, Conrad Lutombi said the project is behind schedule by two and a half months.

N$20 million was supposed to be spent so far on the project, but to date, the contractor has only used N$5 million.

Road infrastructure in Otjiwarongo continues to worsen and needs urgent intervention from the local government authorities in the town.

The municipality of Otjiwarongo entered into an agreement with the Roads Authority and the Road Fund Administration to upgrade the road network in Otjiwarongo.

Good road network infrastructure provides a convenient and efficient mode of transportation for goods and services. This, in turn, makes goods and services more accessible to a larger group, leading to increased trade and commerce.

The upgrading of the N$30 million Nkurenkuru-Nepara road in the Kavango West Region has officially started.

The Nkurenkuru-Nepara road, which is currently gravel and serves a number of villages on the northwestern side of Nkurenkuru, will be upgraded to a low-volume seal standard, of which phase one is expected to be completed within a period of 10 months and will cover 10 kilometres, while phase two is 18 kilometres long.

The Roads Authority (RA) continues to make great strides in terms of the construction of the A1 dual carriage road between Windhoek and Okahandja, with yet another stage of it open to the public.

The construction of the A1 dual carriage road between Windhoek and Okahandja continues with the RA opening access to the 4B section of the road to the public.

The project, which has created over 300 jobs, started in 2016.

Meanwhile, Lutombi urged the public to adhere to road traffic rules as construction on the road continues.

The Roads Authority (RA), Road Fund Administration (RFA), and Nkurenkuru Town Council have signed a three-year agreement for the planning, rehabilitation, and maintenance of urban road networks.

The Nkurenkuru local authority approached the road authorities for assistance in this cause. Under the agreement, the RFA will be responsible for providing funds, while the Roads Authority will assist with engineering services. The Nkurenkuru Town Council completed the 800-metre road last year, funded by the RFA, at a cost of N$3.9 million.

The Roads Authority (RA) has a line-up of projects this financial year in the northern regions, while some have already been completed.

In the Ohangwena Region, the RA has completed the construction of the Oupili-Onamafila to Onalusheshete gravel road, and they will soon start with Omukukutu to Omboloka, Omboloka to Omundaungilo, and Oshuuli to Omulondo.

The Roads Authority (RA) has inaugurated its first-ever NaTIS Mobile Vehicle Testing Station at Rehoboth.

The N$6 million mobile testing facility will visit all the regions.

The Minister of Works and Transport, John Mutorwa, says the testing vehicle will reach remote areas where such services are nonexistent and eliminate the long distances that people have to travel for services.

The facility offers services such as testing vehicles for roadworthiness.

The Roads Authority plans to expand some of its roads in the Zambezi region. 

Lutombi said this at the signing of a memorandum of agreement between the Katima Mulilo town council, Road Fund Administration and Roads Authority.

Lutombi said, apart from the Katima Mulilo road projects expected in the next five years under the MoA, the roads authority will in addition work on the region's key roads as well.

A five-year memorandum of agreement to assist with rehabilitating and upgrading roads in Katima Mulilo was signed between the Katima Mulilo Town Council, Road Fund Administration and Roads Authority.

The town council's Chief Executive Officer Rafael Liswaniso said the long-awaited development would not only transform the town but also bring economic growth.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Roads Authority (RA), Conrad Lutombi, says the institution needs about N$15 billion to carry out its five-year integrated strategic business plan.

Lutombi says most of this funding would come from the line ministry, as well as road user charges through the Road Fund Administration and loans and grants from development partners.