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CONSTRUCTION of the traffic interchange at Mbuzi Roundabout could take, at most, about one-and-half years.
However, the entire workload could be completed way before that.
Mbudzi Roundabout has been closed to enable the construction of the traffic interchange to proceed with minimum disruption.
Construction work started last year at the roundabout, which had been a major choking point in southern Harare, before the Government committed resources to turn it into an interchange.
Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister, Felix Mhona, said:
“The portions of the roads shall be closed for a period of one-and-half years and the motoring public shall be using diversion routes: Malvern Road, Forbes Road, Hopely Road and Stoneridge Road bypass Mbudzi.
“Construction of detours is already at an advanced stage as most of the alternative roads have been tarred, giving comfort to motorists who ply the routes.”
Minister Mhona added that some of the roads to be closed, to allow construction of the interchange, include those that constitute the four legs into Mbudzi traffic circle for a distance 15 kilometres from the centre line of the traffic circle, on all four legs with a road reserve of 70 metres from the road centre line, on either side.
“A portion of Harare-Masvingo Road at Mbudzi, 1,5 kilometres before the centre line of the traffic circle and 1,5 kilometres after the traffic circle,” he said.
“A portion of Chitungwiza Road 1,5 kilometres after the traffic circle going to Chitungwiza, a portion of High Glen Road 1,5 kilometres after the traffic circle going to High Glen has been closed.”
Minister Mhona said the one-and-half years was a contingent time frame that they will be working on.
“We can complete even earlier than that period.
“We have just used 18 months as a contingent period,” said Minister Mhona.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter