Freeman Razemba Senior Reporter
The Mbudzi traffic interchange is now 53 percent complete, as the Second Republic continues to score big on infrastructural development as envisaged by the National Development Strategy 1.
Mbudzi roundabout had been a major vehicle traffic choke-point in southern Harare before Government committed resources to turn it into an interchange, as the Second Republic continues to upgrade infrastructure to cope with modern demands and trends.
Some of the benefits of the project include decongestion of the Mbudzi area by creating streamlined and efficient traffic flow, reducing transit time and accidents in the area.
The project is creating direct employment for over 700 employees and downstream activities for thousands others, while creating skills transfer and upgrade for the Department of Roads staff.
The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development yesterday confirmed the developments while posting of its X handle.
“Construction works at the Mbudzi Interchange are progressing well, with the project now at 53 percent completion,” said the Ministry.
“The 2nd Republic continues to upgrade infrastructure as the country gears towards the attainment of Vision 2030.”
Residents and businesspeople recently commended Government over progress made so far at the Mbudzi interchange flyover.
The US$88 million Mbudzi interchange is at the intersection of Simon Mazorodze Road, Chitungwiza Road and High Glen Road in Harare.
Funding of the project is being done through local financial institutions, while the contractor for the project is a joint venture of three local road construction companies: Tensor Systems, Fossil Contracting and Masimba Construction, collectively coming under the banner of Tefoma Construction joint venture.
When complete, the world-class interchange being constructed under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme, is expected to eliminate congestion at the point where two major highways meet the Beitbridge-Harare national highway, with the traffic circle that was deemed adequate a few decades ago, now totally overwhelmed.
So far, the rehabilitation of the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway is about 80 percent complete with 470km out of the total 580km of the road now opened to traffic, a move which has been hailed by motorists.
Recently, Government opened a 5,4km stretch in Mvuma which was recently reconstructed.
The rehabilitation of the Harare-Beitbridge highway and modernisation of the Beitbridge Border Post to bring in efficient systems aimed at reducing or eliminating delays, are some of the signature projects of President Mnangagwa’s administration.
Beitbridge Border Post has already been commissioned by the President and users of the busiest land border in the SADC region have commended the speed with which they are being cleared.
Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona recently led a delegation on a tour of the highway where he opened the 5,4km part of the road in Mvuma, starting from Gweru turn-off.
The entire north-south corridor has been divided into three sections: the 580km Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge highway together with eight toll plazas, the 342km Harare-Chirundu highway with six toll plazas, and the 59km Harare Ring Road with three toll plazas.
These tolls are aimed at paying for the rehabilitation and maintenance of roads.
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