New intersections to ease Gaborone traffic

The three interchanges along the Western Bypass are expected to improve traffic flow and decongest Gaborone’s busiest roads.

For years, traffic jam in the western part of the city has been a nightmare for motorists and residents of Greater Gaborone, especially during peak hours when people go to and return from work.

Residents in the western part of the city used to take close to an hour sitting in traffic congestion, which flow the upgrading of the road network infrastructure project is expected to improve. With improved traffic flow and decongestion in the city, the road network will enable people to reach their destinations on time.

Over the years, traffic congestion resulted in an increase in road accidents that some even claimed lives.

This infrastructure development is expected to boost the city’s economy by attracting investors. On Friday, the Ministry of Transport and Public Works opened the new traffic management plan that entails the use of the current intersection as a four-way traffic signalised setup and temporary traffic signals to control traffic moving straight along the KT Motsete Drive ‘Western Bypass’ to continue straight as per the current setup.

Meanwhile, traffic turning right from KT Motsete Drive to Kudumatse Drive (Gabane-Nokia) will be controlled by temporary traffic lights.

In addition, the traffic along Kudumatse Drive will pass under the bridge and will be controlled by temporary traffic lights providing straight access and right turn access through the intersection.

Left turning traffic from both KT Motsete Drive and Kudumatse Drive will continue to use the slip roads as per the current setup and traffic will be guided by signage and road markings at the intersection.

Briefing the media during a tour of Rainbow intersection, the Botswana Integrated Transport Project (BITP) programme manager, Mmoloki Baele said while progress of the whole project is at 93%, the Rainbow intersection is at 98% and is expected to be substantially complete by the end of September. Baele stated that the opening of the Rainbow intersection does not mean the construction will be complete because contractors will still be on site finishing up, closing the u-turns and tidying up the end of the bridge.

“It will be more like a four-way signalised intersection. We expect that at the end we will put some artworks on the panels just to bring a bit more aesthetic to the bridge and some landscaping. The permanent traffic lights will be installed in October. The rest of the sites are slightly behind and we expect it to be complete by the end of December,” Baele said. He stated that the delay is caused by some works they are currently doing adjacent to those sites to improve the access because the bridge is going to cause some changes in the vicinity of the site.

“If you look at the Game City intersection, it is going to have an impact on [Gaborone International] Commerce Park, so the current works ongoing along Kgoba Seretse Road is to try and ensure that there is improved access so that the bridge doesn’t worsen the situation along this road and similar work is done next to the Mass Media Complex to improve the junction that goes into Block 3. Early next year all these works meant to facilitate access will be done,” Baele said.

He stated that time wise, they did not perform well because they had to extend the project by another 18 months due to COVID-19 as it started before the pandemic. He added that the relocation of utility services also delayed progress in the project.