Boatle/Gabs road nears completion

Congestion on the Boatle/Gaborone road is expected to ease up with the completion of upgrading of the road in the next two months.

The 18.2km dual carriage-way is expected to come equipped with amenities such as street lights, pedestrian walkways and the inventive livestock and wild animal traffic control underpasses to prevent animals getting onto the road.

“Perhaps the most exciting part of the road is the overpass at the Boatle intersection where an overpass has been created to ease transition of traffic,” attests PPC Botswana General Manager (GM) Tuelo Botlhole.

PPC Botswana is the largest supplier of cement, aggregate and crusher sand for the construction of the road and was also contracted to offer technical support as well as interacting and partnering with contractors exchanging ideas. To date, the company has supplied over 230 000 tons of aggregate and over 13 000 tons of cement through its Sure Road range of products.

Some of the products from the ‘Sure’ range used in the road’s construction include Sure Build and Botcem cement used in the making of curb stones that border the road as well as Sure Road used in the actual construction of the road. Sure Tech cement was also used for the technical part of the construction especially at the two bridges along the road.

The Boatle intersection allows Gaborone-Lobatse bound traffic to pass over the Ramotswa-Mmankgodi bound traffic, easing the bottleneck synonymous with the intersection.

“Gaborone-Lobatse motorists had the right of way at the intersection and this created a backlog of traffic coming from Mmankgodi and Ramotswa,” said Botlhole, who noted that the congestion will be a thing of the past.

Botlhole also said the completion of the highway makes Ramotswa an attractive place to visit and do business in as there will be ease of traffic flow. He also said if it was not before the road was constructed, it will definitely be attractive as a residential destination for many.

Though a welcome development by motorists, the construction of the road disrupted one of the country’s iconic annual marathons; the longstanding PPC King of the Hill Challenge.

The race, which is held in conjunction with the Gaborone Runners Club and attracts hordes of professional runners and amateurs, is expected to take place next year at a date to be set.