The Namibian government has completed a N$552 million upgrade of the 31-kilometre Karibib-Usakos road, a major transportation artery that carries an average of 2,975 vehicles per day. The project, which started in November 2023, has widened the road to a 13.44-metre cross-section and added overtaking lanes, strengthened and widened bridges, upgraded drainage, and improved pedestrian infrastructure. This upgrade is part of a larger effort to improve road safety and connectivity in the region.
Works and Transport Minister Veiko Nekundi has warned motorists using the Karibib-Usakos road that reckless driving will no longer go unnoticed. A new surveillance and emergency response system has been implemented, giving traffic officers the ability to track and intercept dangerous motorists. The system includes cameras installed along the corridor that can identify vehicles and alert traffic officers stationed ahead of motorists who are driving recklessly.
The surveillance system features two-way cameras capable of identifying vehicle registration numbers and owners, as well as electronic road signs linked to the control centre. Permanent traffic officers will be stationed at strategic points along the route, including the Arandis road and the entrance to Swakopmund on the Walvis Bay turn-off, with standby traffic vehicles available to respond to incidents. This move aims to reduce the number of accidents on the busy corridor, which has witnessed many crashes over the years, particularly during holiday seasons.
According to Minister Nekundi, 2,040 of the vehicles using the Karibib-Usakos road daily are light vehicles, while 935 are heavy vehicles, making it one of the country's busiest routes. He attributed most accidents on the road to reckless driving, emphasizing that road-user safety has been central to the upgrade. The project also included the rehabilitation and upgrading of Karibib road, construction of a new district access road, and the Cannon River Hospital Bridge.
The upgraded route forms part of the Trans-Kalahari, Trans-Cunene, Trans-Orange, and Walvis Bay Development Corridors, linking Namibia with neighbouring countries and supporting access to the port of Walvis Bay. German ambassador-designate Thomas Wimmer noted that transport infrastructure remains an important part of the partnership between Namibia and Germany, with Germany having supported the rehabilitation and construction of about 1,800 kilometres of roads across Namibia.
The Roads Authority has delivered N$16.5 billion worth of road construction and maintenance works over the past five years, with approximately N$9.25 billion, or 56%, executed by local contractors. The authority's board chairperson, Martins Kambulu, emphasized that expanding opportunities for Namibian contractors remains a priority. In Usakos, the completion of the road marked a major infrastructure milestone, with mayor Clerens Katorab urging motorists to obey speed limits and respect road signs.
The next phase of the road development will focus on the Usakos-Arandis section and the Khan River Bridge. With the new surveillance system in place, motorists are warned to drive responsibly, as reckless driving will be met with swift intervention from traffic officers. The government's efforts aim to improve road safety and reduce accidents on this critical transportation artery.
Key points
- The Namibian government has introduced an advanced traffic surveillance system on the Karibib-Usakos road to track and intercept reckless drivers.
- The N$552 million upgrade of the 31-kilometre road has improved safety features, including widened lanes, strengthened bridges, and upgraded drainage.
- The project is part of a larger effort to improve connectivity and road safety in the region, with plans for further development of the Usakos-Arandis section and the Khan River Bridge.
