Bulawayo, (New Ziana) — Contractors rehabilitating the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road have been urged to maintain detours to ensure they remain trafficable, following growing concerns from motorists over poor conditions along sections of the route.
In a statement, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development on Tuesday said contractors working along the strategic corridor had been directed to ensure detours are maintained to a standard that allows both light and heavy vehicles to travel safely while rehabilitation works continue.
The rehabilitation and upgrading of the highway is being undertaken in sections, with eight contractors currently engaged along the corridor.
So far, 68.4 kilometres of the road have been completed and opened to traffic, although progress on some outstanding sections, including those around Lupane, has slowed.
According to the Ministry, the slowdown has largely been caused by delays in the disbursement of project funds, affecting the contractors’ ability to mobilise and sustain operations at construction sites.
“The contractors along the corridor have been instructed to reinstate and maintain all detours to a trafficable standard, including for light vehicles, pending completion of the mainline works,” it said.
The directive comes amid complaints from road users over the condition of detours, particularly around Lupane, where rehabilitation works on some sections of the road have slowed, creating difficulties for motorists.
The Ministry acknowledged the concerns raised by travellers and truck operators, saying the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road was a critical link on the northern corridor, connecting Bulawayo to Victoria Falls and onward to the region.
“With regard to the trafficability of some sections of the detours, our teams will continue to monitor the same to ensure that the detours remain trafficable,” it said.
The government, through the Department of Roads, is engaging the Treasury to expedite the release of outstanding funds, while available resources are being prioritised towards sections presenting the greatest challenges to the travelling public.
The Ministry said it remained committed to completing the strategic corridor as part of the national vision to become an uppr middle income society by 2030 agenda, which seeks to underpin economic development with modern and resilient road infrastructure.
The government also pledged to continue updating the travelling public on progress along the corridor.
New Ziana
