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Walter Nyamukondiwa Kariba Bureau
PRELIMINARY works on the upgrading of the first 6,5km of a 21km stretch along Makuti-Chirundu Road are almost complete, paving the way for laying of the road.
The initial works included carving out large boulders on hills that form the Zambezi Escarpment and laying out reinforcement structures.
This sought to tame the most treacherous parts of the 21km stretch which led to many accidents, especially involving haulage trucks which would frequently veer off the road with some falling into the valley.
The road had become notorious for causing delays owing to congestion as haulage trucks struggled to navigate the steep gradient.
Cargo for countries in Sadc, Comesa and East Africa passes through the Makuti-Chirundu Road.
The project has come as a blessing for people in Hurungwe district and surrounding areas who have been employed to undertake casual work.
Financed under a US$21 million grant from Japan, the project involves constructing climbing lanes and smoothening sharp curves.
It also includes construction of a 70-metre wide road, 35 metres on each side, to ensure fast movement of vehicles, including trucks transporting equipment and other goods to and from ports such as Durban and Beira.
The project involves construction of safety barriers, with two steps being built on the mountain sides.
Engineers from Japan and those from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development are working on the project.
Hurungwe district development coordinator, Mr Andrew Tizora, said the project was progressing well.
“According to a brief I got recently, the project is progressing well as work on flattening some of the areas where the road will be laid is almost complete.
“Several people have been employed in the district although we cannot put a figure as that information needs to be verified,” he said.
Meanwhile, work on the first 10km section of the Karoi-Binga Road, which is being funded by Government, is now complete amid indications that funding for the second phase is yet to be released.
Sources said the second phase is expected to cover about 20km.
Gravelling has been done in most areas along the road from Magororo to Sanyati Bridge, making the road trafficable and also easier and cheaper for people in the area to travel and transport their produce to the market.
Online Reporter