Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba
Senior Reporter
Motorists travelling along the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway will face temporary traffic diversions in Masvingo from today as work intensifies on the upgrading, widening and rehabilitation of one of Zimbabwe’s busiest transport corridors.
The traffic changes will affect the section between the 281km peg and 292km peg, including the Masvingo Bypass, and are expected to remain in place until July 24.
In a statement on Monday, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development said the measures were necessary to facilitate ongoing construction works on the highway.
The affected stretch includes the Masvingo Bypass, which starts at the junction of Tongogara Street and Bradburn Road, passes through Bradburn Road beyond Chimusana and Charumbira roads, and reconnects with the Masvingo-Beitbridge Road near Masvingo Polytechnic.
According to the ministry, the rehabilitation programme will be implemented in phases, beginning with the closure of the northbound carriageway.
During this phase, the southbound lane will operate as a two-way carriageway to accommodate traffic in both directions.
Once work on the northbound lane is completed, traffic will be diverted onto the newly rehabilitated section, which will then operate as a two-way carriageway while construction shifts to the southbound lane.
The ministry said several junctions connecting to Bradburn Road will be closed during the works, including Mineral Road, Timber Road and Industrial Road.
“All city-bound (northbound) traffic should exit via Tongogara Street and use either Robert Mugabe Road through Ring Road to rejoin Bradburn Street, or Leopold Takawira Street via Hellet Street or Mucheke Road towards the city centre. Southbound traffic will remain open during this phase of the works,” the ministry said.
Motorists have been urged to use alternative routes where possible, allow extra travelling time, comply with temporary traffic signs and directions from traffic management personnel, and exercise caution around the construction zone.
The ministry also advised road users to give right of way to construction vehicles and equipment, including vehicles operated by contractor Masimba Holdings Limited, to ensure the safety of workers and motorists.
The temporary diversions form part of the broader rehabilitation and upgrading of the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway, a strategic regional transport route linking Zimbabwe with neighbouring countries and key trade corridors.
As part of the project, sections of the highway approaching towns and busy centres are being dualised to improve traffic flow and enhance road safety.
About 5km of road has already been dualised from Beitbridge to the point where the roads to Masvingo and Bulawayo separate, while a further 16km stretch between Ngundu Business Centre and Runde River is undergoing dualisation.
A 20km section leading into Masvingo has already been dualised, while authorities are targeting the dualisation of 36km of highway on the approach to Harare.
Plans are also underway to construct footbridges along the highway to improve pedestrian safety.
Engineers from the Ministry of Transport have been engaged to identify suitable locations, with particular attention being given to school crossing points.
Five local companies — Tensor Systems, Masimba Holdings, Fossil Contracting, Exodus & Company and Bitumen World — were contracted to undertake the rehabilitation of the highway.
