Bulawayo bans heavy vehicles from entering CBD

The City of Bulawayo has formally implemented a ban on heavy vehicles weighing more than 9 tonnes from entering the Central Business District (CBD), as part of new traffic management measures.

In a public notice issued on Monday, 2 June, the local authority outlined updated traffic regulations aimed at easing congestion and safeguarding urban infrastructure.

"The City of Bulawayo advises residents and stakeholders that vehicles exceeding 9 tonnes, whether transiting through or operating within the city, are prohibited from entering the Central Business District and must comply with designated alternative routes," the statement read.

The move is part of broader efforts to improve road safety, reduce wear on city roads, and enhance the overall flow of traffic within the CBD.

Designated routes for heavy vehicles

To accommodate the change, the city outlined specific routes that truck drivers must now follow:

From Harare to Victoria Falls: Harare Road → 1st Avenue → Robert Mugabe Way → Masotsha Ndlovu Avenue → Lady Stanley Avenue → Victoria Falls Road

From Victoria Falls to Harare: Victoria Falls Road → Stanley Avenue → Masotsha Ndlovu Avenue → Lady Stanley Avenue → Robert Mugabe Way → 1st Avenue → Harare Road

From Plumtree to Victoria Falls: Plumtree Road → Masiyephambili → Victoria Falls Road

From Harare to Plumtree & Belmont Industrial Area: Plumtree Harare Road → George Avenue → Ascot Road → Philips Drive → Baines Drive → 23rd Avenue

From Plumtree to Harare: Plumtree Road → 23rd Avenue → Baines Drive → Ascot Road → Philips Drive → George Avenue → Harare Road

From Gwanda to Plumtree or Belmont: Gwanda Road → Ascot Road → Philips Drive → 23rd Avenue → Plumtree Road

From Gwanda to Victoria Falls: Gwanda Road → George Avenue → Harare Road → 1st Avenue → Robert Mugabe Way → Masotsha Ndlovu Avenue → Lady Stanley Avenue → Victoria Falls Road

The City of Bulawayo has also underscored the importance of responsible conduct by truck drivers transiting through the city, advising them not to stop for rest at undesignated locations. Instead, drivers are encouraged to utilise the designated Truck Inn facility located along Victoria Falls Road, opposite the Amakhosi Cultural Centre.

This directive is part of a broader strategy by the Bulawayo City Council to manage traffic congestion, minimise road damage, and enhance overall safety within the Central Business District.