Nekundi allegedly bypasses technical views on speed humps

Former Roads Authority (RA) chief executive Conrad Lutombi and engineers from the parastatal rejected a proposal to install speed humps along the B1 Western Bypass five years ago, citing non-compliance concerns.

According to sources familiar with the matter, road safety officials proposed the installation of speed humps along sections of the Western Bypass and near the Windhoek Country Club Resort in 2021, following concerns over pedestrian safety and road crashes.

Lutombi was not reachable for comment yesterday, but a source familiar with management decisions said engineers at the RA had indeed rejected the proposal, arguing that the road’s status required the uninterrupted flow of traffic.

This would be incompatible with highway standards, RA managers said at the time.

“It is a highway, managed in terms of the ordinance and the law, and it must allow the free flow of traffic,” the source said.

Lutombi, an engineer, led the RA for 15 years before stepping down in December. Hippy Tjivikua, who is currently on probation, replaced him.

The current RA board has temporary status for nine months. The Namibian understands some RA board members disagree with minister of works and transport Veikko Nekundi’s decision on highway speed humps, but have approved it.