Bypass was professionally designed
EDITOR—I respond to Mr. J. Kisolo’s letter entitled, “Changed road design will be a problem†published on Tuesday. Kisolo claims that Kampala the Northern Bypass was designed 20 years ago and the original design was changed without hindsight and this is bound to turn the road into a traffic
EDITOR—I respond to Mr. J. Kisolo’s letter entitled, “Changed road design will be a problem†published on Tuesday. Kisolo claims that Kampala the Northern Bypass was designed 20 years ago and the original design was changed without hindsight and this is bound to turn the road into a traffic nightmare.
He also claims that the bridges along the bypass have no guard rails and pedestrian walkways. I believe his letter was written in good faith though he may have deliberately ignored the facts on the ground.
In February 2000 the Government appointed Messrs BCEOM, to design the most cost-effective alignment for the bypass route with regard to engineering, socio-economic and environmental aspects.
The designers proposed three routes; the ‘red route’, ‘blue route’ and ‘green route’. The ‘red route’ avoided the wetland and valley areas and proposed linking existing roads through the communities of north Kampala.
Primary adverse impacts for this route would be: community severance and the loss of up to 1,200 houses, 24 schools, 13 religious institutions and eight markets along with the potential displacement of between 5,000 to 7,000 people.
The proposed ‘blue’ route reduced distance and severance on both the western and eastern sections of the ‘red’ route. However, this alignment would still adversely affect 12 schools and religious sites as well as numerous houses, and displace a large number of people.
The ‘green route’ where the bypass passes now is located at the base of the valleys and on the edge of the swamps, not through the swamps.
The works on the Kampala-Northern Bypass comprise the construction of 21 km of road (17.5 km of single carriageway and 3.5km of dual carriage road (between Gayaza and Hoima roads).
The Northern Bypass is financed by the European Union and the Government of Uganda has acquired enough land for a 21km dual carriageway. This land is protected and the entire highway will be expanded in future when funds are available.
The nine bridges on the bypass have adequate and safe guard rails and walkways for pedestrians. All the bridges have 1.5 metre-wide walkways, safe for pedestrians.
The construction of the bypass is such that there are a limited number of access roads. This will prevent unnecessary traffic joining the highway, in the process easing vehicle movement and helping to avoid unnecessary traffic jams.
Dan K. Alinange Spokesman
Road Agency Formation Unit
He also claims that the bridges along the bypass have no guard rails and pedestrian walkways. I believe his letter was written in good faith though he may have deliberately ignored the facts on the ground.
In February 2000 the Government appointed Messrs BCEOM, to design the most cost-effective alignment for the bypass route with regard to engineering, socio-economic and environmental aspects.
The designers proposed three routes; the ‘red route’, ‘blue route’ and ‘green route’. The ‘red route’ avoided the wetland and valley areas and proposed linking existing roads through the communities of north Kampala.
Primary adverse impacts for this route would be: community severance and the loss of up to 1,200 houses, 24 schools, 13 religious institutions and eight markets along with the potential displacement of between 5,000 to 7,000 people.
The proposed ‘blue’ route reduced distance and severance on both the western and eastern sections of the ‘red’ route. However, this alignment would still adversely affect 12 schools and religious sites as well as numerous houses, and displace a large number of people.
The ‘green route’ where the bypass passes now is located at the base of the valleys and on the edge of the swamps, not through the swamps.
The works on the Kampala-Northern Bypass comprise the construction of 21 km of road (17.5 km of single carriageway and 3.5km of dual carriage road (between Gayaza and Hoima roads).
The Northern Bypass is financed by the European Union and the Government of Uganda has acquired enough land for a 21km dual carriageway. This land is protected and the entire highway will be expanded in future when funds are available.
The nine bridges on the bypass have adequate and safe guard rails and walkways for pedestrians. All the bridges have 1.5 metre-wide walkways, safe for pedestrians.
The construction of the bypass is such that there are a limited number of access roads. This will prevent unnecessary traffic joining the highway, in the process easing vehicle movement and helping to avoid unnecessary traffic jams.
Dan K. Alinange Spokesman
Road Agency Formation Unit