Lesotho
2.3 Lesotho Road Network
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Overview

The Kingdom of Lesotho has a largely rugged topography that has made development of road and other transport network a challenge. This has a significant implication for transport modes and accessibility throughout the country.  The creation of an integrated transport system remans central to the government’s infrastructure development program. The total road network in Lesotho is approximately 6906.26 kms in length of which 1798.76 kms are paved. The remainder is made up of 3830.52 km of gravel roads and 1276.98 km of earth tracks. Two agencies are responsible for management of the road network (Roads Directorate and the Ministry of Local Government (Urban and Rural)). Asset value of roads is 42 billion Maloti. Road maintenance technical needs was 2 billion Maloti (including administration, rehabilitation and maintenance) up to 2004 and has increased to 4 billion (include upgrading). Financing of maintenance is made through road fund consolidation and the GoL capital budget.

While passenger and cargo transport are provided largely by the private sector operator which includes buses, taxi and privately owned trucks, the Government provides a regulatory framework and policy to allow these industries to provide services. The Government is responsible for the Lesotho Freight and Bus Services which has been run down by inefficiency and poor management and been grounded. Due to challenging topography and infrastructure costs, some areas of the country do not have good roads network and there is no accessibility during bad weather, including rain and snow.

The Roads Directorate (RD) which is responsible for the regulatory framework and policy was established by legislation, Roads Directorate Act No. 16 of 2010 (through merging and restructuring former Roads Branch and Department of Rural Roads) to carry out road development and maintenance core functions of the road sub-sector. The changing needs of the economy and population of a country mean that strategies in any sub- sector need to be developed and regularly reviewed and updated as required. In democratic countries, the strategy review and development includes the views, knowledge and expertise of the role players in the sub-sectors.

For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Government Contact List.

Distance Matrix

The distances given below are from the capital city Maseru to major towns only and are over the most practicable routes; these are not necessarily the best or the fastest.

Travel Distance between Major Towns (km)


Maseru

Berea

Leribe

Mafeteng

Mohale’s Hoek

Mokhotlong

Qacha’s Nek

Quthing

Thaba Tseka

Butha Buthe

Maseru


58

96

77.7

124

277

228

176

167

123

Berea

58


106

132

178

254

255

231

195

100

Leribe

96

106


203

249

186

353

301

179

32

Mafeteng

77.7

132

203


46.3

351

265

98.5

215

197

Mohale’s Hoek

124

178

249

46.3


397

218

52.2

262

243

Mokhotlong

277

254

186

351

397


502

450

121

155

Qacha’s Nek

228

255

353

265

218

502


171

344

349

Quthing

176

231

301

98.5

52.2

450

171


314

249

Thaba Tseka

167

195

179

215

262

121

344

314


202

Butha Buthe

123

100

32

197

243

155

249

249

202


Distance from Capital City to Major Towns

From

To

Distance (km)

Maseru Circle

Alwynskop

167.48

Maseru Circle

Boinyatso

25.71

Maseru Circle

Butha Buthe

121.80

Maseru Circle

Caledonspoort

130.69

Maseru Circle

Ficksburg Bridge

83.97

Maseru Circle

Ha Jonathane

103.67

Maseru Circle

Ha Khabo

125.58

Maseru Circle

Ha Koali

41.61

Maseru Circle

Ha Lejone

163.51

Maseru Circle

Ha Makhakhe

64.37

Maseru Circle

Ha 'Makhoroana

79.10

Maseru Circle

Ha 'Mamathe

50.18

Maseru Circle

Ha Mokhalinyane

54.78

Maseru Circle

Ha Mopeli

126.20

Maseru Circle

Ha Mosala

68.19

Maseru Circle

Ha Ramabanta

65.18

Maseru Circle

Ha Sekake

294.14

Maseru Circle

Ha Seshote

194.54

Maseru Circle

Hleoheng

72.63

Maseru Circle

Hlotse

93.34

Maseru Circle

Katse

216.57

Maseru Circle

Khanyane

99.71

Maseru Circle

Khobotle

95.66

Maseru Circle

Khukhune

142.47

Maseru Circle

Kolo

73.95

Maseru Circle

Lekokoaneng

30.68

Maseru Circle

Likalaneng

79.65

Maseru Circle

Likhoele

80.91

Maseru Circle

Mafeteng

75.72

Maseru Circle

Mahobong

109.97

Maseru Circle

Makhaleng Bridge

130.14

Maseru Circle

Makhunoane

151.30

Maseru Circle

'Mants'Ebo

24.23

Maseru Circle

Mants'Onyane

120.11

Maseru Circle

Mapholaneng

253.97

Maseru Circle

Mapoteng

69.82

Maseru Circle

Maputsoe

83.25

Maseru Circle

Marakabei

103.05

Maseru Circle

Maseru Bridge

4.16

Maseru Circle

Matelile

70.14

 

Travel Time from Capital City to Major Towns (Hours)


Maseru

Berea

Leribe

Mafeteng

Mohale’s Hoek

Mokhotlong

Qacha’s Nek

Quthing

Thaba Tseka

Butha Buthe

Maseru


1:24

1:50

1:20

1:56

5:03

3:52

2:45

3:10

2:17

Berea

1:24


1:26

2:40

3:16

4:37

4:54

4:05

4:12

1:52

Leribe

1:50

1:26


3:05

3:41

3:13

5:35

4:31

4:04

0:28

Mafeteng

1:20

2:40

3:05


0:36

6:23

4:07

1:25

3:40

3:37

Mohale’s Hoek

1:56

3:16

3:41

0:36


6:56

3:32

0:49

4:17

4:11

Mokhotlong

5:03

4:37

3:13

6:23

6:56


8:47

7:39

2:59

2:45

Qacha’s Nek

3:52

4:54

5:35

4:07

3:32

8:47


2:52

5:54

6:01

Quthing

2:45

4:05

4:31

1:25

0:49

7:39

2:52


5:06


Thaba Tseka

3:10

4:12

4:04

3:40

4:17

2:59

5:54

5:06


4:31

Butha Buthe

2:17

1:52

0:28

3:37

4:11

2:25

6:01

5:03

4:31


Road Security

In general, most roads within Lesotho are secure and transporters operate with few, if any, difficulties. There are no alarming cases of highway banditry and insecurity. Police patrols are visible and consistent along the main highways that link the main districts.

Driving is one of the biggest risks to personal safety and security. Vehicles traffic circulates on the left (keep left). Many vehicles are not roadworthy, and not all drivers are properly trained. The average speed limit in the cities is 50 km/hr and outside the city speed limit is 80 km/hr. However, most vehicle do not keep the speed limit. It is common to come up behind a vehicle moving at slower speed. Over speeding is also very common as the country traffic police do not have speed guns.

Other challenging factors include poorly lit roadways. Very few road signs on most of the highways. While many roads are in poor state of disrepair, inexperience and irresponsible drivers are also a great risk. All drivers should be aware of potholes and careless pedestrians, the presence of non-roadworthy vehicles plying the roads. The drivers frequently change the lanes into oncoming traffic without adequate viewing and caution. Street and traffic lights are frequently non-functional or nonexistence altogether.

The overall mission of the Ministry Transport and Communication is to formulate and monitor the implementation of appropriate, comprehensive and robust transport and construction sectors and maintain a dynamic and effective institutional and legal framework, which, provides an enabling environment for sustainable development of transport and construction industries and thus contribute to the achievement of the overall national development objectives.

Weighbridges and Axle Load Limits

The Ministry of Transport and Communication is yet to enact the Weighbridge and Axle Legislation. Since the neighbouring South Africa has Weighbridge legislation, most heavy vehicle in Lesotho Country will keep the maximum weigh applicable in South Africa. However this appears to have an impact on the Lesotho roads which are of lower capacity.

Source: https://lesothotradeportal.org.ls/kcfinder/upload/files/-%20Schedule%20No%201%20Part%203E.pdf

Axle Load Limits

Lesotho

South Africa

Truck with 2 Axles

18,000 Kg

18,000 Kg

Truck with 3 Axles

24,000 Kg

24,000 Kg

Truck with 4 Axles

TBA

TBA

Semi-trailer with 3 Axles

TBA

TBA

Semi-trailer with 4 Axles

TBA

TBA

Semi-trailer with 5 Axles

TBA

TBA

Semi-trailer with 6 Axles

TBA

TBA

Truck & Drawbar Trailer with 4 Axles

TBA

TBA

Truck & Drawbar Trailer with 5 Axles

TBA

TBA

Truck & Drawbar Trailer with 6 Axles

TBA

TBA

Truck & Drawbar Trailer with 7 Axles

TBA

TBA

Road Reserve and Building Restriction Areas

To protect the investment in road building, a road reserve and, outside urban areas, a building restriction area should be located equally about the road centre-line, as shown in the table below

Road Classification

Width Each Side of Road Centre Line (m)

Road Reserve (m)

Building Restriction Width (m)

A

15

30

B (major – links districts)

15

30

B (minor – links local centres to A Class Roads)

10

20

C

10

20

D

10

20

Note: The building restriction width includes the road reserve width. 

 

Class

Km

% of network

Description

Classified Network & Gazetted

A

1525.21

22

Primary roads linking major towns and district centres

and main border posts

B

1401.24

20

Secondary roads connecting districts and linking local

centres to the primary network

C

539.93

8

Tertiary roads connecting local centres within districts, and

linking to secondary or primary roads

D

2421.14

35

Access/Feeder roads to one or more villages

Sub-Total

5887.52

85

Total km that are in the current road Classification

Unclassified Network & Not Gazetted

Rural Roads

651.70

10

Access/Feeder roads to one or more villages

Urban Roads

367.04

5

Estimated paved and unpaved roads in urban areas. Streets

within major towns

Sub-Total

1018.74

15

Total km that are in the current road classified

Total

6,906.26

100

Density is 0.243 km/km2. Per capita is 0.00338 km/person


Of the total road network; the classified network is under the direct management of the Roads Directorate and is disbursed as follows per surface type:

Description

Equipment-based maintenance

Labour-based maintenance

Total Km

Surfaced roads

1628.79

0

1628.79

Gravel roads

888.98

2111.89

3000.87

Earth roads

0

1150.70

1150.70

Tracks

0

107.16

107.16

Totals

2517.77

3369.75

5887.52

DESCRIPTION

RURAL ROADS (KM)

Surfaced roads

0.00

Gravel roads

615.02

Earth roads

36.68

Tracks

0.00

Total

651.70

DESCRIPTION

URBAN ROADS (KM)

Paved roads

169.97

Gravel roads

214.63

Earth roads

50.74

Tracks

84.7

Total

367.04


 

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