Four weighbridges to protect Bulawayo – Victoria Falls highway

THE weighbridge at Hwange Vehicle Inspection Department is set to be rehabilitated by one of the eight contractors currently working on the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls highway as part of a comprehensive strategy to safeguard the newly constructed road from destruction by overloaded trucks, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona has revealed .

Minister Mhona said the contractor under Lot 7 of the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road project has been tasked with refurbishing the facility, which serves as the critical entry point for most heavy vehicles traversing the vital tourism corridor.

He said the multi-pronged approach extends beyond weighbridge rehabilitation to include modernisation of tolling infrastructure, capacitation of road maintenance units, and a fundamental shift toward rail transport for bulk goods.

“The issue of protecting our newly constructed roads, such as the Victoria Falls-Bulawayo Road from damage caused by overloaded trucks is one that we take seriously. The contractor under Lot 7 of the Victoria Falls-Bulawayo Road project has been tasked with rehabilitating the weighbridge at Hwange Vehicle Inspection Department, which serves as the starting point for most heavy vehicles along that corridor.

“Furthermore, the ministry is in the process of upgrading existing toll gates into modern toll plazas between Hwange and Victoria Falls, and another between Lupane and Gwayi, each designed to incorporate heavy vehicle weighbridge facilities,” said Minister Mhona.

He said consultations and site positioning for these facilities are ongoing.

While weighbridges are a critical component of that protection framework, Minister Mhona said it is equally important for the nation to note that safeguarding infrastructure requires a holistic approach.

“To that end, the Ministry is also focusing on the resuscitation and capacitation of our road maintenance units, in addition to the Government’s broader plan to recapitalise the National Railways of Zimbabwe to enhance the movement of bulk goods by rail rather than by road, a key long-term measure in reducing excessive wear on our highways.

“All these measures, are part of a broader effort to ensure the longevity of our road infrastructure and to protect the significant national investment that has gone into its rehabilitation,” he said.

He further said enforcement alone would not suffice without behavioural change among transport operators.

“It is also very important that as we partake in our business of carrying whether they are minerals from various sections of the country, we also need to uphold the issues of required weight always. If we appeal to our people, the truckers, that they must adhere to the required weight on our particular roads, I think that will go a long way,” he said.

Minister Mhona moved to allay concerns over project delays, confirming that works are progressing speedily.

“We also want to allay the fears that we are expediting our works, the contractors are busy, so that they complete on time,” he said.

The development is part of Government’s determination to protect its substantial investment in road infrastructure rehabilitation while pursuing long-term solutions through rail recapitalisation, which is expected to gradually shift bulk commodity transport from road to rail, significantly reducing highway wear.