Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba
Senior Reporter
The construction of the Simon Mazorodze – Willowvale Slip Lane at the Rothmans Interchange aimed at managing congestion at the intersection is now underway in Harare.
The Government recently announced that preparatory work for the construction of two additional interchanges at the junctions of Simon Mazorodze and Willowvale roads, and Simon Mazorodze Road and Remembrance Drive had started, amid revelations that four more such structures are in the pipeline to ease congestion, reduce carnage and modernise the country’s infrastructure.
The interchanges will be at the Mabvuku junction; Harare Drive-Mutare Road; Harare Drive-Liberation Legacy Way; Nemakonde Way-Harare Drive; Sam Nujoma-Harare Drive; Westgate Traffic Circle; Kuwadzana Traffic Circle and Churchill/Liberation Legacy Way.
This is also part of wider efforts to improve the country’s infrastructure.
In a statement, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development confirmed that works were now underway at the intersection of Simon Mazorodze Road and Willowvale Road.
“Steady progress continues on the construction of the Simon Mazorodze–Willowvale Slip Lane at the Rothmans Interchange construction project, a key infrastructure project aimed at improving traffic flow, enhancing road safety and delivering a more efficient road transport network,” the ministry said.
This development comes after the construction of the Mabvuku Interchange is progressing well and is set to be completed by September this year, as Government remains committed to modernising and expanding the national road network.
The project, situated along the busy Harare–Mutare Highway, is designed to ease congestion and improve safety on one of Zimbabwe’s key road corridors.
In an interview recently, the Deputy Director of Construction in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Engineer Virginia Mawere, said the overpass will separate traffic flows while improving safety and efficiency.
“The scope of work entails an overpass which is going to raise the Harare–Mutare Road, with traffic lights regulating vehicles coming in and out of Mabvuku underneath,” she said.
“What we want to achieve is improved safety, reduced travel times and enhanced trade along this regional corridor,” she said.
She noted that the interchange forms part of a wider intervention targeting congestion hotspots across the capital.
“We are implementing the Greater Harare Interchanges Project to address capacity challenges at key nodes. Beyond Mabvuku, we are constructing the Delport Trumpet interchange and upgrading 19 km of Delport Road linking to Airport Road and Seke Road. At Seke Road, another interchange will further improve traffic flow,” Engineer Mawere said.
Additional works include the Msasa interchange, where diversion routes are nearing completion ahead of full construction works.
