Moroke Sekoboto
THE Roads Directorate has unveiled an ambitious M1.861 billion infrastructure programme for the 2026/27 financial year aimed at upgrading, rehabilitating and maintaining roads and bridges across Lesotho.
Speaking during a press conference yesterday, Roads Directorate Director General, Teboho Mokhoane, said the agency was determined to fully utilise this year’s allocation after failing to exhaust its M2.3 billion budget in the previous financial year.
“We are committed to spending 100 percent of this year’s budget and ensuring that planned projects are delivered,” Mr Mokhoane said.
The programme was funded through the government allocations of M1.154 billion, the World Bank (M291.48 million), the Road Fund (M329.29 million) and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (M86.45 million).
Among the major projects would be the upgrading of the Thaba-Tseka-Katse, Matlali-Lebakeng, and Ha Paramente-Ha Mpharoane (Seboche Road) routes to bitumen standard.
The directorate would also construct the Tebellong Bridge and its approach roads to improve regional connectivity, while four Bailey bridges and 22 footbridges will be built or reconstructed to provide safer crossings for rural communities.
Mr Mokhoane said the programme includes engineering designs for 13 future road projects, including TY-Kubetu, Maqhaka-‘Malesaoana, Butha-Buthe-Oxbow, Mafeteng-Quthing, Mohale’s Hoek-Mpharane, Quthing-Ha Mosi, Sekake-Mpiti, the Malealea road network, Kofi Annan access roads, Taung-Sehlabathebe, Thaba-Tseka-Taung-Mokhotlong, and the Moshoeshoe I International Airport road and runway.
He said a significant portion of the budget had been allocated to rehabilitating deteriorating roads.
According to him, the programme would include the rehabilitation of 171 kilometres of paved roads, including the St Michael’s-Roma, Maseru-Maqhaka and Mpiti-Qacha’s Nek Border Gate corridors.
Mr Mokhoane said a further 281.18 kilometres of gravel roads across more than a dozen rural routes would also be rehabilitated to improve access and facilitate economic activity.
Routine and periodic maintenance would be carried out on 199.5 kilometres of paved roads to extend the lifespan of existing infrastructure.
He said the directorate also planned to rehabilitate 24 traffic light systems and implement nine major street lighting projects covering key areas including Kolonyama, Maputsoe, Hlotse, Masianokeng-Airport Junction, Van Rooyen’s-Matholeng, Tikoe-Phuthiatsana Bridge, Village Gate-Ha Foso, and the Quthing-Mohale’s Hoek corridor.
Looking ahead, the Roads Directorate would undertake three baseline studies and five feasibility studies to guide future infrastructure development.
He said these included the Maseru Urban Mobility Study, the Drakensberg/Maluti Route Study, an Inland Tolling Feasibility Study, the establishment of Permanent Automatic Traffic Count Stations, and a National Transport Statistics and Digital Mobility Project.
“We will also redesign major intersections in Maseru to improve traffic flow and road safety,” Mr Mokhoane said.
To protect public road reserves, the directorate would survey 640 kilometres of urban roads to identify illegal encroachments. The exercise would cover roads including Kingsway Road, Thabong Circle-Lakeside, Ha Motšoeneng-Ha Makhoathi, Mookoli-Tšosane, Sekamaneng-Ha Foso, and Seputana-Maqalika via Temong.
He said enforcement operations to remove illegal structures would be undertaken in TY CBD, Semonkong and along Seretse Khama Road in Maputsoe.
Mr Mokhoane said the programme was designed to improve connectivity, stimulate economic growth and enhance road safety while preserving the country’s transport infrastructure through timely maintenance and long-term planning.
