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THE Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP) has transformed the outlook and trafficability of strategic roads in the province — with works at various levels of completion, while other routes have since been opened to motorists.
Some of the contractors, working under strict Government supervision, are putting final touches on their projects.
Most of the roads targeted under the programme had gone for decades without refurbishment, and most of them are now being upgraded into surfaced tarred roads.
Last week, the Provincial Roads Engineer in the Ministry of Transports and Infrastructure Development, Engineer Kudzai Maganga said the upgrading of gravel roads in Nyanga, Buhera, Makoni and Chipinge (commonly referred to as Binya Roads) is progressing well.
The roads are being tarred under ERRP2.
He said the rehabilitation of Gairezi Bridge in Nyanga is 98 percent complete.
The bridge has since been opened for traffic.
Engineer Maganga said the construction of the 5km stretch on the Murambinda/Birchenough Road in Buhera is now 45 percent.
The 131km Murambinda-Birchenough Bridge Link Road has for years been giving motorists nightmares, especially during the rainy seasons.
Travellers along the road have also not been spared from exorbitant fares, given the few transport operators plying the route.
The road, when complete, will provide the shortest link from Harare to Birchenough Bridge via Murambinda.
“It is works in progress on the Murambinda-Birchenough Road. Spot re-gravelling and continuous grading of 30km Chipinge-Mt Selinda Road is now 80 percent, while surfacing of the 5km stretch along that same road is progressing well at 20 percent,” he said.
Engineer Maganga said construction of the 5km Cashel-Chimanimani Road is 18 percent, while that of the 17km Machongwe-Rusitu Road is 98 percent complete.
“The contractor is putting final touches. The construction of Nyahodi Bridge (Number Four) is 98 percent complete, with the contractor also working on final touches.
“Still in Chimanimani, the Eastern Boarder box culverts (three) are 95 percent, while work on the Nyamangura Shelvert in Makoni is 60 percent complete,’ he said.
Engineer Maganga said the continuous re-gravelling and grading of the 12.5km Marondera/Chiduku Road is 75 percent complete.
In Rusape, construction of the 1.3km Castle Base Road was completed and the road has since been opened to traffic.
Construction of the 3.5km Vengere Loop Road is 35 percent complete, while construction of the 1.7km Old Magamba Road is 70 percent complete.
The transformation of the roads has brought a sigh of relief to motorists.
Motorists had become accustomed to plying earth roads.
Tarred roads are only in the Central Business District, Vengere and industrial areas. Three quarters of the town has earth and gravel roads.
This has finally come to the end following Government’s take-over of three strategic roads in the town.
The 1.7km Magamba Road was expected to be completed last Sunday, but work was stopped due to the wet spell currently being experienced in the town.
On the Vengere Loop which is 3.5km, work has commenced and by the time of going to print, the contractor was busy gravelling.
Acting Rusape town secretary, Mr Togarepi Nerwande said they are indebted to Government for taking over roads maintenance.
“The coming in of Government is a huge relief for us. On our own, we could not do it. We do not have the capacity to tar the roads, and we expect Government to adopt more roads to lessen the burden on us.
“At best, we do pothole patching and grading earth roads, so the tarring of these three strategic roads by Government is a big investment for Rusape. The council and the residents are grateful,” said Mr Nerwande.
District Development Coordinator (DDC) Makoni, Mr Edwin Mashindi said the improvement of the road network in the district will help lure investment.
“We are having massive improvements on our roads due to the ERRP. There is so much improved accessibility and trafficability of our roads in Rusape.
“Poor roads were prevalent in Rusape and ERRP could not have come at a more opportune time. Our local authority was incapacitated to deal with roads.
“Government has shown its willingness and commitment to ensure that we have trafficable roads in our town. The residents are elated over this. Good road infrastructure is an enabler of attracting investment,” said Mr Mashindi.
Online Reporter