Millions for new port gate
A total amount of N$70 million has been budgeted for the new Namport entrance gate, which is expected to ensure smooth traffic flow.
Namport intends to start with the construction of a new port entrance gate and truck staging area at a cost of approximately N$40 million in the first quarter of next year and expects to complete the process by mid-2019.
The entire project budget is about N$70 million, of which N$30 million has already been spent in 2016.
Port engineer Elzevir Gelderbloem shared the latest developments about the proposed project and information on how this project will ease traffic congestion around the port and ensure smooth traffic flow far into the future.
Gelderbloem said the current container terminal entrance gate located at the end of Gertrude Kandanga-Hilukilwa Road would be closed permanently when the new gate complex is commissioned in 2019 and all port traffic, including container trucks will then use the new main entrance gate opposite 5th Street East.
The existing main entrance gate opposite 3rd Street East will become an exit only gate.
He explained that the closure of the existing container terminal gate is necessary to redirect all container trucks to the new container terminal where they will pass through customs' X-ray scanners, which are located inside the port a few hundred metres away from the current main entrance gate.
“Container trucks currently entering the container terminal gate cannot easily reach the X-ray scanners and manoeuvre back into the terminal. The existing container gate is too small and will not cope with future volumes,” he said.
Finally, when the new container terminal is commissioned the existing terminal will no longer handle containers.
“After consideration and weighing up of possible options the port authority concluded it would be best to construct a new main entrance only gate opposite 5th Street East on Namport land currently leased by TransNamib and to use the current main gate opposite 3rd Street East as an exit gate only,” Gelderbloem said.
This solution will allow traffic to flow through the town naturally in two straight lines into the port.
Trucks will drive straight down 18th Road from the big roundabout, then turn left into 5th Street East and then proceed right into the new port entrance gate with no more turns.
“In addition, traffic exiting the port through the future exit only gate can leave town through 3rd Street East and out through 18th Road. Trucks will be strongly encouraged to only make use of these two main routes into and out of town when visiting the port of Walvis Bay.”
Gelderbloem also proposed the permanent closing of the level crossing at Gertrude Kandanga-Hilukilwa Road and moving it to a new crossing at 15th Road - Railway Street as part of the project to build a new main entrance gate.
The level crossing currently is on Namport property, the rail reserve, and this will simply be moved further north also on Namport property. The shifting of the level crossing will result in the closure of Gertrude Kandanga-Hilukilwa Road just before it crosses over the railway tracks.
Vehicular traffic will then be redirected to the new level crossing at 15th road – Railway Street.
The detailed design of the new level crossing at 15th Road – Railway Street is being done in close liaison with the municipality, including the traffic department.
“This course of action will move traffic away from the port entrance and out of the railway shunting zone. The current level crossing is within the marshalling yard zone of shunting operations,” he said.
“A level crossing should ideally be located outside the shunting zone especially in heavy trafficked areas such as this. The long traffic queues, which currently forms when train conduct shunting operations, and seems to happen during peak traffic hours is a headache for motorists and for the municipal traffic department as well.”
OTIS FINCK
The entire project budget is about N$70 million, of which N$30 million has already been spent in 2016.
Port engineer Elzevir Gelderbloem shared the latest developments about the proposed project and information on how this project will ease traffic congestion around the port and ensure smooth traffic flow far into the future.
Gelderbloem said the current container terminal entrance gate located at the end of Gertrude Kandanga-Hilukilwa Road would be closed permanently when the new gate complex is commissioned in 2019 and all port traffic, including container trucks will then use the new main entrance gate opposite 5th Street East.
The existing main entrance gate opposite 3rd Street East will become an exit only gate.
He explained that the closure of the existing container terminal gate is necessary to redirect all container trucks to the new container terminal where they will pass through customs' X-ray scanners, which are located inside the port a few hundred metres away from the current main entrance gate.
“Container trucks currently entering the container terminal gate cannot easily reach the X-ray scanners and manoeuvre back into the terminal. The existing container gate is too small and will not cope with future volumes,” he said.
Finally, when the new container terminal is commissioned the existing terminal will no longer handle containers.
“After consideration and weighing up of possible options the port authority concluded it would be best to construct a new main entrance only gate opposite 5th Street East on Namport land currently leased by TransNamib and to use the current main gate opposite 3rd Street East as an exit gate only,” Gelderbloem said.
This solution will allow traffic to flow through the town naturally in two straight lines into the port.
Trucks will drive straight down 18th Road from the big roundabout, then turn left into 5th Street East and then proceed right into the new port entrance gate with no more turns.
“In addition, traffic exiting the port through the future exit only gate can leave town through 3rd Street East and out through 18th Road. Trucks will be strongly encouraged to only make use of these two main routes into and out of town when visiting the port of Walvis Bay.”
Gelderbloem also proposed the permanent closing of the level crossing at Gertrude Kandanga-Hilukilwa Road and moving it to a new crossing at 15th Road - Railway Street as part of the project to build a new main entrance gate.
The level crossing currently is on Namport property, the rail reserve, and this will simply be moved further north also on Namport property. The shifting of the level crossing will result in the closure of Gertrude Kandanga-Hilukilwa Road just before it crosses over the railway tracks.
Vehicular traffic will then be redirected to the new level crossing at 15th road – Railway Street.
The detailed design of the new level crossing at 15th Road – Railway Street is being done in close liaison with the municipality, including the traffic department.
“This course of action will move traffic away from the port entrance and out of the railway shunting zone. The current level crossing is within the marshalling yard zone of shunting operations,” he said.
“A level crossing should ideally be located outside the shunting zone especially in heavy trafficked areas such as this. The long traffic queues, which currently forms when train conduct shunting operations, and seems to happen during peak traffic hours is a headache for motorists and for the municipal traffic department as well.”
OTIS FINCK
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