MUTARE City Council (MCC) has embarked on a road refurbishment exercise that has seen the complete resealing of First Street covering a distance of 1.1km.
MCC Public Relations Officer Spren Mutiwi on Friday confirmed the development and said the local authority was in overdrive to refurbish the city’s road network.
Mutiwi said Mutare City Council required more than US$30 million to upgrade the 500km stretch of the road network to attain the Smart City Status.
The council’s move comes as almost the entire road network in the city has outlived its lifespan.
On resealing of First Street, Mutiwi said: “The project was carried out to the tune of ZW$2.5 million by Fossils Contracting to do the job while the local authority plays the supervisory role.”
The city spokesperson added that the new road network had renewed business confidence, including that of motorists who operate along First Street.
Mutiwi said while periodic road maintenance was still in progress, the local authority would continue to roll out routine maintenance programmes.
As part of the road rehabilitation exercise, Mutiwi said council would extend periodic road rehabilitation along the Aerodrome Road, a busy passageway that connects Chikanga high density suburb to the city.
He added that Mutare City was committed to road rehabilitation, as long as it got grants from the National Roads Administration (Zinara).
“We are hopeful that if Zinara increases the grants and disburses them within time, we will be able to make great impact,” he said.
“The local authority is determined to change the poor road network and establish modern road infrastructures that befit the status of the city,” Mutiwi explained.
He appealed to residents to honour their monthly rental obligations.
“This is the only way which will guarantee improved and better services delivery in general,” he said, adding that road rehabilitation will routine through pothole patching across the city roads.
