Designed to enable the construction of the Polihali Dam and Transfer Tunnel, this multi-contract infrastructure programme establishes a modern, engineered transit corridor through the rugged Maluti Mountains - connecting remote highlands to major regional economic hubs, trade routes and freight networks.

For the transport and logistics sectors, this network solves major high-altitude transit bottlenecks and provides a reliable high-load route capable of moving massive construction equipment, including Tunnel Boring Machines.

Key routes and upgrades

Comprising four main construction contracts, the access road programme centred on three strategic routes engineered to handle heavy vehicle fleets and long-haul transport:

1. Polihali Western Access Road (PWAR) – The High-Load Heavy Transport Corridor

• A brand-new 54 km (54.3 km) two-lane surfaced corridor built in two separate packages (PWAR East: first 21.44 km; PWAR West: 21.44 km mark to the end).
• Connects to the Northern Access Road at Ha Seshote in the west and extends to the Polihali Dam and Polihali Transfer Tunnel sites in the east.
• Specially engineered with high-load capacity to haul massive TBM components required for tunnel excavation.
• Allows transport operators heading to the Polihali Dam to bypass the treacherous Moteng Pass on the A1 highway. Although slightly longer in distance, the PWAR significantly reduces overall travel times, vehicle wear and tear and winter transport risks. Crucially, travel time between Katse and Polihali has been reduced from an eight-hour journey over gravel tracks to just one hour on tar.

2. Northern Access Road (NAR / A8) – Freight Arterial Rehabilitation

• A 98 km existing road stretching from the Pitseng central business district to Katse village.
• Repaired, resurfaced and fitted with upgraded drainage and safety infrastructure. This included replacing road joints on three major river bridges and upgrading the scenic Mafika Lisiu viewing site situated at over 3,000 meters above sea level in the Mafika Lisiu Pass.

3. Polihali North East Access Road (PNEAR) – Direct Site Link

• A 16.1 km double-seal surfaced Class A road connecting Mapholaneng to the Polihali Dam site.
• Connects directly to the main A1 highway between Maseru and the construction area. It serves as a vital corridor for vehicles traveling via the Moteng Pass to reach the Polihali Dam, Polihali village, the diversion tunnel, and the main transfer tunnel outlet works.

As heavy civil works intensify for the Polihali Dam and Transfer Tunnel, the completed access road corridor provides the heavy-duty transit infrastructure necessary to move critical freight, reduce transit risk, and sustain regional commerce for years to come.