KEY POINTS:
- Fossil Contracting restarts work on Lorraine Drive following complaints about poor construction quality.
- The project had faced issues due to substandard work, leading to a public outcry and delays.
- The resumed work aims to rectify these errors and deliver a road that meets quality standards.
The Lorraine Drive project in Harare has been revived after suffering some construction hitches, and Fossil Contracting is back on site.
The original work that was commissioned to the company had been reported several times by the residents and stakeholders to be of poor quality, hence leading to the halt of the project. After these problems, the company returned to onsite to construct a road with the right standards.
Substandard work sparks concerns
The people of the community and business entities complained about the condition of the road, which they said degraded shortly after construction.
This had resulted in the formation of some cracks, potholes, and other uneven surfaces along the road hence increasing the traffic problems and possible dangers. It got worse when the rainy season arrived and the road was further washed away.
This backlash led the Harare City Council to act and stop the construction of the project until Fossil Contracting could come up with a solution to the poor construction. In response, the company was quick to inform the public that it would work to ensure that the concerns were dealt with and that the expectations as provided in the contract were met.
Fossil makes efforts to change
After consulting the council and the local authorities, Fossil Contracting has been able to resume construction on Lorraine Drive.
The new phase of work will be to rectify the mistakes made in the first phase, strengthen the road structure and guarantee it can bear the traffic load and other harsh weather conditions.
New Zimbabwe also reported that the project was initially considered as a much-needed improvement of the city’s infrastructure to help reduce traffic congestion and interconnect different parts of Harare.
The delays, however, created inconveniences for the commuters and the business people who use the road for their day-to-day activities.
Looking forward
However, the resumed work on Lorraine Drive gives new hope to the community after the earlier setbacks. Upon completion, the upgrade of the road is believed to enhance the flow of traffic and reduce the risks of accidents for the residents and the business people.
This project is in line with the general development plan of the city of Harare to enhance the general infrastructure of the city including the transport infrastructure.
With the help of avoiding the same mistakes as in previous cases and providing more effective supervision, the city will be able to avoid such problems in future projects.
As Fossil Contracting continues with the construction of the road, there is confidence that the completed road will help the community for many years to come in terms of the economic development of the residents.
