BEITBRIDGE MODERNISATION PROJECT COMMENCES

The government of Zimbabwe has commenced the
Beitbridge modernisation project. The project, being developed by ZimBorders,
will be undertaken over a period of 3 years and implemented under a Build Operate and Transfer arrangement (BOT) running for 25 years.

According to project contact manager Herkie
Sandernbergh of Raubex Construction, which was subcontracted for civil works by ZimBorders, the works on
the project will include the construction of more commercial customs offices,
paving and expansion of sewer and water reticulation facilities; separation of
traffic into buses, light vehicles, tourists and commercial vehicles;
construction of a commercial bridge to link with South Africa, upgrading of
Beitbridge Municipality’s key infrastructure as well as the refurbishment of
road networks to and from the border post.

The border post will be run as a
public-private-partnership between the government of Zimbabwe and ZimBorders
under a 17-year concession.

“However, the main civil works of the project will
start from next year up to 2021 when the project will be completed. At the
moment, we want to ease the challenges mostly around congestion during peak
periods,” he added.

During construction, the project will employ
between 300 and 400 people from Beitbridge. Upon completion, the border post is
anticipated to have a capacity to handle about three times the current traffic
and passenger flow.

The project will also help to boost the town’s economic and infrastructure growth. The modernization project entry which handles 15 000 travellers, 1 500 light vehicles, 500 trucks and 100 buses daily, will have the capacity to handle about three times the current volume of human and vehicular traffic.https://constructionreviewonline.com/2019/10/rehabilitation-of-beitbridge-modernisation-projects-in-zimbabwe-commences/