EAI International Conference for Research, Innovation and Development for Africa

Research Article

Design of a Link Road to Connect the Beitbridge-Chirundu Highway to Harare Drive in Harare, Zimbabwe

Download2420 downloads
  • @INPROCEEDINGS{10.4108/eai.20-6-2017.2270749,
        author={Joan Shumba and Liliana Vassileva and Samson Shumba and Namatirai Cheure},
        title={Design of a Link Road to Connect the Beitbridge-Chirundu Highway to Harare Drive in Harare, Zimbabwe},
        proceedings={EAI International Conference for Research, Innovation and Development for Africa},
        publisher={EAI},
        proceedings_a={ACRID},
        year={2018},
        month={4},
        keywords={highways traffic congestion ring road grade separated intersection geometric design},
        doi={10.4108/eai.20-6-2017.2270749}
    }
    
  • Joan Shumba
    Liliana Vassileva
    Samson Shumba
    Namatirai Cheure
    Year: 2018
    Design of a Link Road to Connect the Beitbridge-Chirundu Highway to Harare Drive in Harare, Zimbabwe
    ACRID
    EAI
    DOI: 10.4108/eai.20-6-2017.2270749
Joan Shumba1,*, Liliana Vassileva2, Samson Shumba3, Namatirai Cheure4
  • 1: Civil Engineering Student
  • 2: Senior Lecturer
  • 3: Lecturer
  • 4: Teaching assistant
*Contact email: shumbajoan@gmail.com

Abstract

The project focussed on the design of a link road to connect the Beitbridge-Chirundu Highway to Harare Drive and Kirkman Road in Harare, Zimbabwe. The proposed link road is approximately 17 km long. The link road will alleviate traffic flowing into Harare by linking the missing portion of Harare drive a ring road to a major highway. A manual traffic count was carried out to determine the percentage of heavy vehicles in transit on the highway. The results were compared to historic traffic counts. The analysis was carried out using QGIS and AchiCAD softwares, Microsoft excel and AutoCAD. The geometric design of the link road and intersection was carried out based on guidelines for Southern Africa roads. The link road and grade separated intersection with a design life of 20 years was designed. It is recommended that traffic flow be diverted and extra caution be taken during the construction.