Vusumuzi Dube
Vusumuzi Dube and Clementine Phulu , Sunday News Reporters
REHABILITATION works at the largely dilapidated Luveve Road is set to commence tomorrow and it will include pothole patching, localised pavement reconstruction, overlays, reinstating of carriageway markings, drainage and other general maintenance works.
The work follows a tour of the road by Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister, Cde Felix Mhona where he condemned it, ordering responsible authorities to urgently work on its rehabilitation.
This subsequently saw the Bulawayo City Council submitting a $3 billion quotation to the Government after identifying five key roads that require emergency rehabilitation – Luveve Road, Matopos Road, Wellington Road, Khami Road and Steelworks Road.
As the local authority awaits the release of the funds from the Government they have since channeled their own resources which will see works commence on Luveve road tomorrow.
In a statement, the city’s Town Clerk, Mr Christopher Dube said the works will go on for the next 90 days.
“The motoring public is hereby notified of the proposed Luveve Road Improvement Works, between Waverly Street and Intemba Drive. The works will comprise pothole patching, localised pavement reconstruction, overlays, reinstating of carriageway markings, drainage and other general maintenance works.
“The works will commence on Monday, 9 January 2023 for ninety days. Once completed these works will prolong the life of the carriageway, improve road safety and ride quality,” said Mr Dube.
The Town Clerk revealed that as the works commence there would be full carriageway closure of sections with traffic being diverted accordingly and lane closures where necessary, to ensure the safety of both the motoring public and workforce.
“Every effort has been made to ensure disruption to traffic, businesses and residents is kept to a minimum. However, the road closure will inevitably cause some disruption, and for this, the City of Bulawayo wishes to apologise in advance.
“The motoring and the general public are advised to exercise extreme caution when entering and leaving the works locations, observe all warning signs and to follow the diversion route signs,” said Mr Dube.
The state of the city’s roads has steadily deteriorated over the past few years with the local authority revealing that over 75 percent of its road network was in need of urgent rehabilitation at a cost of US$700 million, a situation which saw Government rolling up its sleeves and extending a hand through President Mnangagwa initiated nationwide ERRP.
With the onset of the rainy season most of the roads have become untrafficable and a death trap.
Responding to questions from the Sunday News, BCC corporate communications manager Mrs Nesisa Mpofu said their implementation approach is divided into different categories which is the emergency works, the preventive works, reconstruction works and construction of drainage structures.
She revealed that the local authority employs in-house teams, outsources or contracts out some work, and works with community organisations as a means or method of rehabilitation for roads with fair to poor pavement conditions.
“In the process of rehabilitating the roads the BCC uses pothole patching material and surfacing materials in which they use Bituminous, asphalt concrete, chip and amp, sprays and other alternative road construction materials available in the market,” said Mrs Mpofu.
As they are still waiting for the release of funds from the Government the BCC has got other sources of funding which they are working with and the council spokesperson revealed that they are also engaging private companies like Davies Granite that have pledged to fix some roads in the city.
“Sources of funding we have Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara) and revenue accruing to Council. The year on year, budget allocations have compared unfavourably with funding considered inadequate to maintain the road network,” she said.
After receiving about $12 billion from Zinara in September last year the council went on and submitted the $3 billion quotation to the Government in November after it pledged to release funds to rehabilitate some of the city’s unnavigable roads littered with potholes.
In his New Year’s message, Bulawayo mayor, Councillor Solomon Mguni revealed that the council’s plan is to increase roads in good condition by 15 percent (360 km) in the next five years, and a minimum level of investment of US$15 million per annum is required.
The City’s road implementation strategy for the year 2022 was to focus on existing road network to try and address safety concerns, preserve those roads in fair condition and keep the roads trafficable.
derick.khumalo