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Deputy Minister of Works and Transport, Honourable Hans Haikali, met earlier today with the Mayor of Walvis Bay, Cllr Johanness Shimbilinga, the Chief Executive Officer, Victoria Nelago Kapenda, engineers from the Municipality of Walvis Bay, the Roads Authority, Otesa Civil Engineering, Namibia Construction, Tulipamwe Consulting Engineers and other key stakeholders to assess the status of road infrastructure projects in Walvis Bay and explore solutions to challenges affecting the town’s road network.
The engagement formed part of the Deputy Minister’s efforts to familiarise himself with the situation on the ground and gain a better understanding of the factors impacting road construction and maintenance in Walvis Bay. Discussions focused on the unique conditions that affect infrastructure development in the town, including challenging geotechnical conditions, high groundwater levels, ageing underground services and the significant volume of heavy traffic generated by port-related activities.
The Deputy Minister emphasised the importance of collaboration among all stakeholders and highlighted the need to identify practical and sustainable solutions to accelerate infrastructure delivery. He noted that Walvis Bay plays a critical role in the country’s economy and that addressing road infrastructure challenges remains a priority..
The Engineer for Roads and Building Control, Theo Potgieter, provided the Deputy Minister with an overview of the Municipality’s ongoing road rehabilitation programme. He reported that several road rehabilitation projects are currently underway across Walvis Bay, with some road sections nearing completion and a number of key intersections already upgraded.
Potgieter further indicated that additional roads have been identified for future rehabilitation and that specialised technologies are being investigated to replace ageing sewer infrastructure without the need for extensive excavation. He explained that the condition of underground sewer and water infrastructure remains one of the primary factors affecting road conditions and that addressing these underlying issues is essential to ensuring the long-term sustainability of road rehabilitation investments.
Apart from the roads currently being rehabilitated through the Memorandum of Understanding between the Municipality of Walvis Bay, the Road Fund Administration (RFA) and the Roads Authority (RA), Independence Road, Nathaniel Maxuilili Avenue and Pelican Street have been identified as priority roads for rehabilitation. Other roads across the town will continue to receive attention through ongoing pothole repair and resealing programmes.
Technical experts further noted that road rehabilitation is generally a lengthy process due to the planning, design, procurement and construction phases involved. In Walvis Bay, the process is further complicated by the town’s unique geotechnical conditions, high groundwater levels, ageing underground infrastructure and heavy traffic volumes, all of which require specialised engineering solutions and careful project implementation.
The site visit and discussions provided an opportunity for stakeholders to share technical insights, highlight current challenges and explore innovative approaches to improving Walvis Bay’s road infrastructure for the benefit of residents, businesses and road users.