Xinhua
13 Oct 2021, 22:35 GMT+10
HARARE, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Zimbabwean government has disclosed that the new traffic interchange to be constructed to the south of Harare will cost 85 million U.S. dollars.
The project, which is expected to ease congestion at arguably the country's busiest traffic circle, is part of the government's key infrastructure projects.
State broadcaster ZBC reported Wednesday that Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development Felix Mhona had told it that the funding for the project had already been secured.
"The whole project will cost 85 million U.S. dollars but this is subject to review and I can gladly say the funding is already there. We also invited private players. Twenty million dollars will be used on detour roads," said Mhona.
The government last week decided to immediately upgrade the roundabout to an interchange amid complaints by the motoring public that it was hardly passable, especially during peak hours.
Construction will take about 12 months to complete.
Commonly referred to as the Mbudzi Roundabout, a reference to the selling of goats in the adjacent areas, the traffic circle has been a huge source of frustration to motorists who would spend up to two hours covering a stretch of less than a kilometer during peak hours due to the congestion.
It is located at the crossroads of Simon Mazorodze, High Glen, Masvingo and Chitungwiza roads and caters for traffic coming into the city from as far as South Africa.
Some motorists coming from the eastern parts of the country seeking to bypass the city also use the roundabout as they travel to the western and northern parts of the country and to countries in the north such as Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Local authority Harare City Council has said that it will work with the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development on the project.
A senior government official also said recently that the government was negotiating with a financial institution which had expressed interest in advancing a loan or funding to Treasury.
The project will also lead to the demolition of more than 320 illegal structures in the area, as Harare City Council clears land for the mammoth project.
The structures include houses and shops which were built along road reservations.
Get a daily dose of Zimbabwe Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Zimbabwe Star.
More InformationWASHINGTON, D.C.: Travelers at U.S. airports will no longer need to remove their shoes during security screenings, Department of Homeland...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: An elaborate impersonation scheme involving artificial intelligence targeted senior U.S. and foreign officials in...
SLUBICE, Poland: Poland reinstated border controls with Germany and Lithuania on July 7, following Germany's earlier reintroduction...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: After months of warnings from former federal officials and weather experts, the deadly flash floods that struck the...
MOSCOW, Russia: Just hours after his sudden dismissal by President Vladimir Putin, Russia's former transport minister, Roman Starovoit,...
DHARAMSHALA, India: The Dalai Lama turned 90 on July 6, celebrated by thousands of followers in the Himalayan town of Dharamshala,...
Vancouver [Canada], July 11 (ANI): Canadian journalist Daniel Bordman called the attack on a cafe owned by comedian Kapil Sharma a...
KHARTOUM, July 10 (Xinhua) -- It was 2 p.m. in a displacement camp on the outskirts of Port Sudan, where the relentless sun had already...
The 17th BRICS summit was more than a photo op. It was a coordinated rejection of Western power and a declaration of intent A few...
The 17th BRICS summit was more than a photo op. It was a coordinated rejection of Western power and a declaration of intent A few...
New Delhi [India], July 11 (ANI): South African all-rounder Wiaan Mulder has revealed that legendary West Indies batter Brian Lara...
URUMQI, July 10 (Xinhua) -- A total of 24 journalists from 23 countries have participated in a media tour of northwest China's Xinjiang...