Mbudzi Interchange’s Amalinda Bridge opened to traffic

Freeman Razemba-Senior Reporter

Government has opened to traffic the newly constructed Amalinda Bridge and a 1,6 km stretch along Amalinda Road in a move that has been hailed by motorists and residents.

The bridge is one of the 15 bridges needed for the Mbudzi Interchange and associated works south of Harare.

Another bridge is on the Harare Drive missing link and it has also been completed and will be opened to traffic soon.

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

By last month, 11 of the 15 bridges had been completed.

Transport and infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona, his deputy Joshua Sacco, chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport Infrastructural Development, Cde Knowledge Kaitano, Zinara chairperson Dr George Manyaya, Zinara chief executive officer Mr Nkosinathi Ncube, Traffic safety Council of Zimbabwe managing director Mr Munesu Munodawafa and other senior Government officials were on the ground to open the bridge and the stretch.

The Mbudzi Interchange is at the intersection of Simon Mazorodze, Chitungwiza and High Glen Roads that feed traffic from western Chitungwiza and many old and new suburbs into Harare’s city centre, as well as the heavy national and regional traffic on the Harare-Masvingo Highway.

Construction of the interchange and surrounding roads is being carried out by Tefoma Construction, a consortium set up by Tensor Systems, Fossil Contracting and Masimba Construction.

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

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

The country has a road network of close to 90 000 km.