The African Development Bank (AfDB) yesterday approved a US$153-million loan to the government of Namibia for the upgrade of a 210-kilometre stretch of railway and a section of the road from Windhoek to Hosea Kutako International Airport yesterday (Wednesday).
According to AfDB spokesperson David Short, the upgrade of the railway track will include a linkage to the Walvis Bay port and will be implemented over the next three years while the road upgrade project will take around 42 months to complete.
“This road and rail project will have a welcome effect on Namibia’s ability to integrate with other members of the Southern African Development Community, improving access to both sea and airports,” said AfDB Infrastructure, Cities and Urban Development director, Amadou Oumarou.
Short noted that freight trains would be able to travel at up to 80 kilometres per hour on the upgraded rail track.
“The upgrading of the railway track between Walvis Bay and Kranzberg will speed up both freight and passenger traffic,” he said. “The current railway line, of Cape Gauge standard, was last upgraded in the 1960s and in its current condition, with speed restrictions, is an infrastructure bottleneck resulting in increased transport costs.”
The road project will include the construction of a new dual carriageway in both directions, with the option to add a third in the future. During construction the existing road to the airport will be retained as an alternative to service local traffic.
The African bank said that the government of Namibia would be co-financing the project.
“The Namibian government recognises that the combination of having direct access to the South Atlantic and a good transport network can improve its competitiveness and desire to become an international logistics hub,” said Short.
Additionally, the AfDB will provide support in the expansion of the container terminal at the Port of Walvis Bay.
