The Sunday News
Nozibelo Maphosa, Sunday News Reporter
THE Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development has started repairing roads that were destroyed by heavy rains early this year with up to $5 million having already been used from the allocated $14,5 million.
In a report compiled by the Ministry, in Matabeleland South where the Nkankezi Bridge along the Mbalabala-Masvingo Road was destroyed, a detour to the old low level bridge has been constructed and opened to all traffic except haulage trucks.
According to the report, a tender for the repairing the main bridge has been awarded.
“A tender for repairing the Nkankezi Main Bridge was awarded on 7 April 2017, and construction is expected to be complete in about eight weeks,” reads the report.
The report noted that the Filabusi-Avoca Road in Matabeleland South was also being repaired after it was hit by gravel erosion caused by the floods.
“Reconstruction is in progress and the 20km of Mapea-Dite-Peters Road and side drain have been repaired. However, the Bulawayo-Kezi Road is yet to be repaired,” reads the report.
The report further read that in Matabeleland North backfilling and culvert repairs works were in progress for the Kamativi-Binga Road while the Lonely-Motapa Road has been completed. The grading of the Bulawayo-Nkayi Road is underway to repair roads washed away between four kilometre and 10km peg as well as the Gobi-Lusulu-Sibombo Road.
“A 38,5km of the Gobi-Lusulu-Sibombo Road have been repaired and the drift repairs have been completed. The culverts are still being worked on and 25km out of 60km of the Tobotobo-Insuza Road has been repaired to date,” reads part of the report.
In Midlands, that roads which have been completed include Danga-Dolo and Ngungumbane-Mangava, while reconstruction of the Sanyati-Nemangwe, Kwekwe-Gokwe and Donga-Chekenyu roads were still underway.
“The Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) was engaged to assist the Department of Roads with the erection of a temporary Bailey bridge at Jeka,” reads part of the report.
In Masvingo Province roads that are being repaired include the Makwi, Mandamabwe-Tokwe and Padare-Chipinda.
In Mashonaland West Province, 20 percent pothole patching has been done on the Harare-Chirundu Road, while bush clearing was in progress.
“Grass cutting and pothole patching is underway for the Chegutu-Chinhoyi and Lionsden-Mhangura roads,” reads the report.
The report also noted that in Mashonaland East, Mutoko-Nyamuzuwe, Murewa-Madicheche roads were among many others being repaired.
“Murewa-Madicheche Road culvert repairs at 87 km, 92 km and 96 km pegs have been completed and so has Old Mazowe Road in Mashonaland West. 41 kilometres of the Tsitu Road have been repaired,” reads the report.
In Manicaland the Nyamaropa-Chiso, Nyashanu-Betera and Birchenough Masvingo and Stapleford roads were being repaired.
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