News / National
Tender out for Vic Falls Bridge rehabilitation
17 Nov 2023 at 00:04hrs | Views
THE Emerged Railways Properties (ERP), a company constituted by National Railways of Zimbabwe and Zambia Railways is calling for proposals for contractors that can help carry out maintenance work on the Victoria Falls Bridge.
The process of constructing the bridge started in 1904 following the arrival of the railway. It was built in three parts from either side of the gorge and was finally joined on April 1, 1905, with the official opening by Professor George Darwin, son of English naturalist and geologist Charles Darwin on September 12, 1905.
The iconic bridge is jointly owned by NRZ and Zambia Railway and managed by ERP.
It is an important infrastructure providing passage to the region and was once closed at the height of the liberation struggle in 1969 and reopened in 1980.
In 2013, in the build-up to hosting the United Nations World Tourism Organisation ( UNWTO) general assembly, Zimbabwe and Zambia hosted a joint event on the bridge.
ERP now wants to rehabilitate sections of the bridge and is calling for proposals for the provision of landscaping and restoration services.
In a statement, the company said a compulsory pre-bid site visit will be held on 24 November at the bridge.
"Tenders are invited for the provision of landscaping and restoration services at the Victoria Falls Bridge and its approaches.
"A compulsory pre-bid site visit is scheduled for the 24th of November 2023 to be held at the Victoria Falls Bridge starting at 10:30am," read the statement.
The meeting will take place at the big tree near the bridge.
Tender documents are available at the office of the joint company secretary at NRZ headquarters in Bulawayo or Kabwe in Zambia.
Submission of tenders will close on December 8 at 4pm and no late submissions will be taken.
Tenders received will be opened on the same day in the presence of bidders who would have chosen to attend.
The bridge is a crucial facility, not only in the transport sector but also for tourism as visitors flock to the structure to walk through and view the Mighty Victoria Falls blanket of falling water.
Bungee jumping and zipline activities are also done on the bridge.
A few years ago, both Zimbabwe and Zambia introduced toll fees for heavy vehicles using the bridge while light vehicles including those used for tourism purposes with a gross weight of up to two tonnes, are exempt.
The process of constructing the bridge started in 1904 following the arrival of the railway. It was built in three parts from either side of the gorge and was finally joined on April 1, 1905, with the official opening by Professor George Darwin, son of English naturalist and geologist Charles Darwin on September 12, 1905.
The iconic bridge is jointly owned by NRZ and Zambia Railway and managed by ERP.
It is an important infrastructure providing passage to the region and was once closed at the height of the liberation struggle in 1969 and reopened in 1980.
In 2013, in the build-up to hosting the United Nations World Tourism Organisation ( UNWTO) general assembly, Zimbabwe and Zambia hosted a joint event on the bridge.
ERP now wants to rehabilitate sections of the bridge and is calling for proposals for the provision of landscaping and restoration services.
In a statement, the company said a compulsory pre-bid site visit will be held on 24 November at the bridge.
"Tenders are invited for the provision of landscaping and restoration services at the Victoria Falls Bridge and its approaches.
The meeting will take place at the big tree near the bridge.
Tender documents are available at the office of the joint company secretary at NRZ headquarters in Bulawayo or Kabwe in Zambia.
Submission of tenders will close on December 8 at 4pm and no late submissions will be taken.
Tenders received will be opened on the same day in the presence of bidders who would have chosen to attend.
The bridge is a crucial facility, not only in the transport sector but also for tourism as visitors flock to the structure to walk through and view the Mighty Victoria Falls blanket of falling water.
Bungee jumping and zipline activities are also done on the bridge.
A few years ago, both Zimbabwe and Zambia introduced toll fees for heavy vehicles using the bridge while light vehicles including those used for tourism purposes with a gross weight of up to two tonnes, are exempt.
Source - The Chronicle
