Redesign work on three city junctions completed

Works on the three of the six city junctions that were under upgrading by China Railway Seventh Group, Co (CRSG) Limited have been completed, the chief business representative Cui Yun has revealed.

Yun told a team of World Bank and Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) officials that despite some interruptions in the project, the firm has completed Fairway, Mambule and Kira are completed while Makerere, Bakuli and Bwaise are to be accomplished by the end of the year, with works so far at 98%.

He explained that despite the delays experienced like relocation of electric, and telephone poles and relocation of residents among others, works on the roads are on schedule.

Yun said the Fairway roundabout would be handed over to KCCA by the end of month.

He was speaking to journalists after leading 30 environmental, social and security experts from the World Bank and KCCA on a tour of the projects.

Yun said traffic lights have been installed at some of the sites for easy navigation.

The project funded by the World Bank under the KIIDP II is estimated to cost US$33m (about sh88.5b).

The CRSG project manager, Li Wanhong, said some of the new junctions have green buffer zones, water purification, recycling system as well as dust and noise control measures.

According to KCCA director of public and coporate affairs, the Fairway roundabout was remodeled and redesigned to ease transport for the road users who used to spend a lot of time in traffic jams.

"We are satisfied and impressed with the contractor for the works done so far," said Joseph Darfur, a senior World Bank environmental expert after the inspection tour.

The project coordinator, Second Kampala Institutional and Infrastructure Development Project (KIIDP), KCCA Charles Tumwebaze, said the authority has ensured that social and environmental issues are handled well.

"The junction was redesigned with walkways, traffic lights and street lights will soon be installed along the road," said KCCA spokesperson, Peter Kauju, who also revealed that sh9.4b had so far been spent on the project.

"The Chinese government has considered environmental protection as a national event, we as a member will even set a higher standard in the environment, social and safety management " CRSG representative in Uganda, Bian Peng said.

Plans by KCCA indicate that it plans to upgrade about 92km of roads and also install traffic lights at major road junctions, under the KIIDP II World Bank project.

The roads on the first phase of the project include reconstruction and widening of Makerere Hill Road (from Wandegeya to Nakulabye) into a dual carriage way (four-lanes). Traffic lights will also be installed at four junctions including Makerere University, Gadhafi Road, Sir Apollo Kaggwa Road and Nakulabye junctions.

The road from Bakuli through Nakulabye to Kasubi along Hoima Road will also be widened to four-lanes, in addition to putting traffic lights at the Bakuli and Kasubi junctions.

Other roads widened to four lanes include Kira Road (from the Police Station to Kabira). The junction at Kira Road Police Station will also be signalized.

KCCA roads cover 2,100km of which 80% have been rehabilitated.

The five-year project is estimated to cost $175m (approx. sh501.9b) of which about sh28.6b ($10m) is to be contributed by government.