Valentine Makufa
Masimba Construction Company is to construct additional bridges on Mucheke River in Masvingo which is aimed at reducing congestion along the Masvingo-Beitbridge highway under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP 2).
Speaking during a media tour organized by Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira a few weeks ago, road works Consultant Engineer Finale Mapurisa said one bridge is to be constructed adjacent to the existing bridge on the highway while the other one at Chimusana would be split into two and the other one leading into Mucheke Township.
“We are constructing a new bridge at Chevron Hotel adjacent to the existing Mucheke Bridge. Another one is to be separated into two, one on the North bound and the other one on the South bound over the Chimusana Bridge. We are also going to construct another one over the road to Mucheke Township,” said Mapurisa.
He said preparations for the adjacent bridge are almost complete and construction is expected to start early or mid-August.
“The design for the bridge adjacent to the existing Mucheke Bridge is almost complete and works are set to commence on the second or third week of August,” added Mapurisa.
Masvingo is set to expand its Central Business District (CBD) to the new site along Charumbira road where plans to do so are already underway.
Traffic congestion has been a prominent feature on the highway during peak hours of the day sometimes affecting traffic flow in the CBD or passage into town and the bridges would help alleviate the perennial challenge.
