Final stretch of the Boulevard remains mired in delays

Thousands of motorists and commuters navigating the A10 road must brace themselves for prolonged congestion as the last major dual carriageway out of Gaborone stubbornly lingers only on construction plans and property valuation documents. This project represents the final piece in the transformation of Gaborone’s principal arteries into dual carriageways, a list that includes the Game City-Boatle junction, the Mogoditshane-Metsimotlhabe dual carriageway (A12), and the Sebele dual carriageway on the A1. Yet, while those projects have progressed, this 27-kilometer section has stalled.

Transport and Infrastructure Minister Noah Salakae confirmed the extended delays during a parliamentary session this week. On Tuesday, he revealed that the much-anticipated upgrade has yet to advance beyond the design and property valuation phases. Construction has been deferred, Salakae explained, with detailed designs expected to be finalized by the end of April 2026.

Valuations of structures affected by the project are slated for completion before the close of the first quarter of the 2026/2027 financial year. “Detailed designs are expected to be completed before the end of the 2025/2026 financial year while valuation of the affected properties is envisaged to be completed before the end of the first quarter of 2026/2027 financial year,” Salakae stated. The dual carriageway project, valued at P1.7 billion, has become a symbol of political intrigue, suspensions, and corruption allegations.

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Approaching a decade of stagnation, it has been delayed repeatedly, frustrating those who rely on this critical route. Though Salakae did not provide a definitive timeline for when construction will finally commence, industry observers anticipate further months of waiting. A civil engineer, speaking anonymously to this publication, outlined the typical stages of such a project, which usually unfolds in four phases: Environmental Impact Assessment, Road Design, Materials Design, and Supervision.

“The road design (2nd component) covers the compensation for structures that need to be demolished to pave way for the project… the material design covers trial hole location, sampling of trial hole material, testing of material, identification of suitable material, mapping of borrow pit, determination of hauling distance and distance between borrow pits. All these inform the material costs,” the expert explained. The final phase, supervision, begins once the contractor mobilizes on site.

It involves rigorous oversight to ensure the work adheres to technical specifications and is executed properly. The road’s design includes a 4.6-kilometer link along Paul Rantao Road, commonly known as Pula Spar Road. Beyond property valuations, the project faces the complex task of relocating utility services, including water, power, and telecommunications infrastructure. In 2021, the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board announced the suspension of the tender process, pending confirmation of available funding.

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