Directorate suspends applications to build access roads

MASERU – THE Roads Directorate has suspended applications for the building of access roads to businesses and private homes along several main roads in Maseru.

The Directorate told a press conference on Friday that several businesses and filling stations including private homes along the main roads in the city will be affected.

The Directorate’s Director of Road Network Learning, Khasapane Kikine, said they are yet to talk to the owners of the buildings about the development.

Roads from which businesses and private homes alongside them could possibly need access roads include the Kingsway from the main traffic circle to Basotho Shield where it joins the Mpilo Boulevard.

The other road is A1, generally referred to as the Main North 1, from the main traffic circle to the National Abattoir in Khubetsoana.

Also the A2, known as the Main South 1, from the main traffic circle to Masianokeng will be affected.

The other road is A6, Moshoeshoe Road, from the main traffic circle through the Maseru West Industrial Area to where it joins Kofi Annan Road in Ha-Hoohlo.

The entire A7, Kofi Annan Road, which is from Ha-Hoohlo passing through Thetsane Industrial Area to Masianokeng is also not open for access roads to connect to it.

The B20 Road, from Thabong Circle to Lakeside traffic lights, is also another road from which buildings on its sides will not connect access roads until further notice.

The B21, from Ha-Motšoeneng to Ha-Makhoathi, the B31, which is called Lancers’ Road from Mookoli to Ha-Tšosane, the B311 in Florida to where it joins the Old TY Road (B31) that runs through

Naleli to Ha-Foso and the B60, from Seputana via Lesotho Agricultural College to Maqalika Dam are roads that will be affected.

The suspension of applications started yesterday.

Kikine said the suspension will last until the Ministry of Local Government has completed the Land Use Plan (Maseru 2050 Master Plan) or when the Roads Directorate has completed a review of the design guidelines.

Kikine said the main reason to the suspension is the increased volumes of storm water run-offs causing drainage blockages due to new access roads.

“This causes rapid deterioration of the road pavement layers which leads to development of potholes,” Kikine said.

“The current design guidelines prohibit access within a space of 500 minimums and 600 maximums respectively depending on factors of the land available.”

He said the problem is caused by increased level of traffic disruptions by traffic trails into businesses, which disrupts traffic flow.

Kikine said high level of encroachment by businesses causes loading and on and off-loading in the road reserve, which disrupts traffic flow.

He said this has increased accidents due to reduced sight distances caused by encroachments.

“The Roads Directorate has reached a decision that all existing filling stations along these roads should be re-configured to serve uni-directional traffic, as a result eliminating all right turning movements,” he said.

“As the Roads Directorate we have approached owners of the filling stations and talked to them, but we are still going to meet with them again and discuss in details the suspension of roads and how their businesses are going to be affected and whether they are willing to work hand-in-hand with us.”

Tholoana Lesenya