Harare Drive link road, bridge opened to traffic

Freeman Razemba Senior Reporter

A 790-metre link road and a bridge along Harare Drive in Houghton Park, which is also part of the Mbudzi interchange, has been opened to traffic.

The road is set to ease traffic jams in the southern parts of the city.

It stretches from Houghton Park round-about along Simon Mazorodze Road and connects to Waterfalls at the Waterfalls Community Hall.

It then links to Masotsha Ndlovu Way which also stretches from Simon Mazorodze Road to Seke Road.

The interchange is made up of 15 bridges, with 13 directly on the interchange, and two more on Amalinda Road and Harare Drive.

So far, 14 out of the 15 bridges have been completed.

The Mbudzi Interchange is at the intersection of Simon Mazorodze, Chitungwiza and High Glen Roads that get traffic from Chitungwiza and many Harare suburbs, as well as the Harare-Masvingo Highway.

Previously, the intersection was managed by a round-about, but increasing traffic volumes caused congestion, especially during peak hours.

Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona today was at the site to open the road and the bridge.

He was accompanied by the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Harare Metropolitan Province, Charles Tavengwa, Public Service Commission (PSC) commissioner Mr Larry Mavima, Zanu PF Harare Province chairperson Cde Goodwills

Masimirembwa, Zinara board chairperson Dr George Manyaya, the chairman of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructure Development, Cde Knowledge Kaitano and Zinara chief executive officer Mr Nkosinathi Ncube.

Minister Mhona said the country’s largest single road interchange is being constructed as part of the continuous upgrade of the entire road system.

Construction of the Mbudzi Traffic Interchange is now over 85 percent complete and is set to be opened to traffic soon.