Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, [email protected]
MOTORISTS and commuters in Bulawayo could soon experience a major shift in the way they navigate the city centre, with the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) considering converting Herbert Chitepo Street and Fort Street into one-way traffic lanes running in opposite directions as part of efforts to ease congestion and improve traffic flow.
The proposal comes amid growing concerns from residents, commuters and business operators over worsening traffic bottlenecks in parts of the central business district, particularly during peak hours when queues of vehicles often stretch across major intersections.
BCC spokesperson Mrs Nesisa Mpofu said the proposal forms part of the city’s broader traffic management strategy aimed at improving mobility, reducing congestion and enhancing road safety.
“The City of Bulawayo is aware of the growing need to improve traffic flow within the central business district and the proposal forms part of the city’s broader traffic management plans,” she said.
Mrs Mpofu, however, said the proposal is not an immediate fix as significant infrastructure upgrades would first be required to ensure the roads and supporting routes can adequately accommodate changes in traffic patterns.
“Before such a system can be implemented, there is a need to first upgrade the affected roads and supporting routes to ensure they can effectively handle the anticipated traffic changes,” she said.
Mrs Mpofu said priority works would include upgrading Herbert Chitepo Street and Fort Street, as well as sections of Basch Street between 8th Avenue Extension and Falls Road and between Khami Road and 13th Avenue.
Mrs Mpofu said Steelworks Road would also need to be made fully trafficable to provide motorists with alternative routes and help distribute traffic more efficiently across the city.
She said the city is mindful that any major changes to traffic flow must be supported by adequate infrastructure so that congestion is not merely shifted from one area to another.
For many motorists, the prospect of a one-way system offers hope for shorter travelling times and smoother traffic movement in the CBD, where narrow roads and increasing vehicle numbers have placed pressure on existing infrastructure.
Urban planners have long argued that one-way traffic systems can significantly improve the efficiency of busy city centres by increasing road capacity, reducing delays at intersections and minimising conflict points between vehicles.
Cities around the world have successfully adopted one-way systems as part of traffic management strategies, often combining them with improved road infrastructure, better signage and enhanced pedestrian facilities.
In Bulawayo, council has in recent years explored a range of interventions aimed at modernising the city’s transport network, improving road safety and enhancing the efficiency of movement for both motorists and pedestrians.
Mrs Mpofu said council continues to assess various measures aimed at addressing congestion within the CBD, with any review of traffic flow patterns expected to be guided by the condition of road infrastructure and the need to provide a safe, efficient and sustainable transport system.
While council has not indicated when the proposal could be implemented, the pace of road rehabilitation and upgrading works is expected to determine how quickly the city can move towards the envisaged one-way traffic system.
If implemented, the changes could mark one of the most significant shifts in Bulawayo’s traffic management system in recent years, potentially reshaping the daily commute for thousands of motorists and commuters who pass through the city centre each day.
