adminMunicipal Reporter
Work has started on the upgrading of another roundabout on the Bulawayo Road, the one controlling traffic from Warren Park D, under the Government’s Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme to ensure that traffic flows more smoothly along the major western highway with less congestion.
The upgrading of the nearby Kuwadzana roundabout, which includes putting in slip lanes and widening the existing roads in the circle, has also been accelerated as the Government moves with pace to modernise its road to curb congestion. Slip lanes allow traffic to turn left without entering the roundabout and so reduce congestion.
Progress checks yesterday at the Warren Park D and Kuwadzana roundabouts showed that work was progressing well.
At the Warren Park D roundabout at noon, the Department of Roads was using its heavy equipment to put gravel on a slip lane from Warren Park D Mereki area.
At Kuwadzana traffic circle it was also business on full throttle as the contractor was widening the lane from Kuwadzana heading to Harare-Bulawayo Highway.
Gravelling was also underway at two slip lanes which were opened sometime last year.
Motorists hailed the Government for creation of slip lanes although calling the contractors to speed up the upgrades of the roundabouts.
“This is quite commendable. We have been experiencing congestion from Warren Park traffic lights up to this area. The creation of the slip lane will be of great deal as vehicles heading to Warren Park D and Cold Comfort will be avoiding the traffic circle clearing the way for the busy Harare-Bulawayo highway,” said Mrs Roselyn Zisengwe.
Another motorist Mr Victor Bumba said at Kuwadzana traffic circle the contractor should increase pace.
“Although we understand the scope of work being done is quite huge, still their pace has been worrisome. Upgrades of the Airport and Westgate traffic circles were started around the same time as this last year, but are already in use,” he said.
Other roundabouts that were upgraded by the Government include that along Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Road leading to the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport which has three slip lanes already completed and open to traffic and at the Westgate circle, two slip lanes are also complete.
The ongoing Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme, has seen roundabouts being improved in a move that will ease congestion in urban areas.
The large amount of work done under the Central Government programme has seen most arterial roads in towns and cities now fixed, with work progressing on the loop roads.
Online Reporter