Mozambique: Tchumene junction opens to traffic – AIM

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Mozambique: Tchumene junction opens to traffic – AIM

8:02 CAT | 23 Sep 2021

Photo: O País

The Tchumene junction, which ensures access to the EN4 motorway to South Africa, from the Maputo Ring Road, on Thursday was officially opened to traffic, following the conclusion of road works.

The junction, budgeted at 16 million US dollars, consists essentially of five access ramps which will enable easy movement of traffic from the outer Maputo suburb of Zimpeto to Matola and to Moamba, on the EN4 motorway and vice-versa. The junction will also allow traffic from South Africa to flow to northern Mozambique without passing through Maputo.

Alongside the junction, a new 100 metre long bridge has been built over the Matola River.

The Deputy Minister of Public Works, Cecilia Chamutota, said “it is with great pride and a feeling of mission accomplished that we deliver the infrastructure, with great patterns of accessibility, safety and comfort.”

The junction will undoubtedly divert a great deal of traffic travelling from South Africa away from Maputo, particularly during the festive season when many of the Mozambican workers in the neighbouring country return to their homes in Gaza and Inhambane provinces.

Chamutota declared that, before the construction phase, agreements had been reached with Trans African Concessions (TRAC), the South African company which operates the motorway,

“The connection is very important as it will reduce the time taken for motorists to reach their destinations and ensure that there is an even lower number of road accidents,” she said.

Chamutota added that efforts are underway to improve the road signs for better safety and soon public lighting, using solar energy, will be installed along the road to improve safety levels for motorists and for the communities.

Regarding the four toll gates under construction along the Ring Road, she said that the amount of money to be paid by the users has not yet been decided, but as soon as an agreement has been reached it will be made public.

Source: AIM