Warning: Trying to access array offset on value of type bool in /usr/www/users/urnnet/a/story.php on line 43 UNRA Starts Refurbishing Dilapidated 62-Km Olwiyo-Pakwach Road :: Uganda Radionetwork
The road is a major business route serving as the main connection to West Nile, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It has however been in poor shape for several years, with many of the road sections having developed large potholes and gullies, often paralysing normal traffic flow.
The
rehabilitation of the dilapidated 62.5-kilometre Olwiyo-Pakwach road in Nwoya
District has kicked off.
The road is a major
business route serving as the main connection to West Nile, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It has however been in poor shape for several years, with many of the road sections having developed large potholes and
gullies, often paralysing normal traffic flow.
The Uganda National Roads
Authority-UNRA recently awarded a 177 billion Shillings contract to National
Enterprise Corporation (NEC) and China Railway No. 7 in a joint venture to undertake
full rehabilitation of the road. The task will take at least 24 months.
UNRA's Media Relations Manager Allan Ssempebwa told Uganda Radio Network on Wednesday that the
contractors are already on the ground and have now commenced
the identification of troublesome spots and restoring them for easy navigation by
vehicles ahead of the major rehabilitation works.
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Ssempebwa adds that the major rehabilitation
will include working on spoilt drainages, laying new road surfaces, and expanding
the road size. He assured road users that the
road is under full rehabilitation adding that they should expect a different road
user experience.
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The rehabilitation works come
years after district leaders from Nwoya and motorists raised complaints
about its poor state, especially between the sections of Agung, Purongo, Anaka, and
Olwiyo Sub counties. They had also been demanding speedy government intervention
in refurbishing the road.
Emmanuel Orach, Nwoya District Chairperson welcomed the development saying it was long overdue. Orach says the bad state of the
road had affected normal transportation along the busy highway adding that with
the rehabilitation, they expect improved businesses to resume.
Upgrade of Olwiyo-Pakwach road from
gravel to bitumen standard commenced in 2004 and ended in 2006 before its
commissioning.
