Karibib to Usakos road upgraded with German support

A recently upgraded section of Trunk Road 7/1, located between Karibib and Usakos, was unveiled with support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. The project was financed through an interest-reduced loan of N$372.6 million from KfW Development Bank, which carries a repayment period of 10 years. A joint statement last Friday revealed that a stretch of 31.2km was rehabilitated and extended to a 2+1 carriageway between Karibib and Usakos. This included, besides new surfacing, the addition of dedicated overtaking lanes as well as widened shoulders for improved road safety and ease of congestion.

The loan forms part of the Support Programme for Road Rehabilitation, which comprises three phases including contributions to the upgrading of the Windhoek – Okahandja corridor, rehabilitation of a section of the B1 between Keetmanshoop and Mariental and the section between Karibib and Usakos. The loan total amounts to N$1.3 billion. The statement noted that the road forms part of several logistics corridors, linking other Southern African Development Community countries to the Port of Walvis Bay, advancing the country’s ambitions to become a regional logistics hub and improve economic development.

The total contract value of the newly opened road section is N$498.6 million. In addition to the main road works, the contract included upgrades to the town sections, comprising new parking bays in Karibib and a roundabout in Usakos. Works are still ongoing to connect the hospital in Usakos via a bridge over the Kanone River.

According to the statement, the main contractor, Zhongmei Engineering Group, was supported by Tangeni OM Trading Enterprises cc; West Trading cc; INO Investment Holding; and Alughodi Engineering & Construction, which represented 25% of local partner contractors. Other SME contractors were also engaged to provide road-marking, cleaning and security services. The project promoted local employment, with more than 500 people employed to date, 25% of whom are women. Construction materials, including cement, steel, fuel, interlocks, aggregates and kerbing, were also procured locally.

The road was unveiled by the Minister of Works and Transport, Veikko Nekundi; the Governor of the Erongo Region, Dr Nathalia |Goagoses and the Ambassador-Designate of Germany, Thomas Wimmer.