DDF in $4m road rehab project
THE District Development Fund has embarked on a $4 million programme to rehabilitate roads and construct bridges in Mashonaland West province.
The programme will see Piriviri Bridge linking Makonde and Hurungwe districts being constructed at a cost of about $1,5 million, while work is already underway for the construction of Musukwe Bridge.
Musukwe Bridge links parts of Hurungwe District with Gokwe in the Midlands where Chidamoyo Hospital, the Grain Marketing Board depot and shops nearest to some villagers are located.
In an interview with The Herald, DDF provincial coordinator Mr Erikano Chikande hailed Government for availing funding for the projects, which will ensure most areas in the province are easily accessible.
“We have embarked on various routine road maintenance projects covering most areas in the province. The programme is aimed at ensuring that our people have access to services while also aiding economic activity in their areas.
“Farmers have already started delivering tobacco and shortly, harvesting of the summer season crop will commence,” he said.
Construction of Musukwe Bridge is now 30 percent complete with three piers out of five already done.
The project is expected to be complete before the onset of the rainy season. Several roads have also been targeted for routine maintenance and reconstruction as they have gone beyond their design lifespan.
Chomuchena Bridge in Mhondoro which was washed away by the rains is expected to undergo reconstruction to bring relief to children at Chomuchena, Nenyundo and Mukono schools.
It will also ensure people in the area who were cut off from Mubaira Growth Point have access to services — clinic and hospital and markets, especially the Grain Marketing Board.
Work is also underway in patching-up potholes along the Mubaira-Denga Road, which links Masvingo Road and Mubaira Growth Point.
The DDF is also working with the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development to rehabilitate at least 20km of road along the Golden Valley-Chakari Road, which links Sanyati farmers with their markets.
The Skyline-Mubaira Road will also be rehabilitated.
Mr Chikande said owing to funding constraints, DDF cannot refurbish all the roads at the same time, but will prioritise main roads for rehabilitation before moving to feeder roads where every road has been given an allocation for routine maintenance.