THE poor road network and traffic jams in the capital will soon be a thing of the past following the launch of the K1.7 trillion urban road rehabilitation project by the Road Development Agency (RDA).
The four-year project, which is expected to commence in a few months, involves the rehabilitation of about 400 kilometres of existing city roads.
The RDA has signed a memorandum of understanding with AVIC International Project Engineering Company, to undertake the project that is also expected to create thousands of jobs.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Lusaka yesterday, RDA executive director Bernard Chiwala said the project includes widening selected roads with high traffic volume and providing an interchange solution for the Kafue roundabout.
“The project will involve re-engineering selected junctions to improve the flow of traffic flow and construction of bus bays along selected routes, as part of road safety measures,” he said.
Mr Chiwala assured the public that the construction works will not inconvenience motorists because the contractors will work on 10 kilometres at a time, which will be handed over to the city council upon completion.
He said the project is a milestone in the improvement of roads in the country, adding that the RDA also intends to roll out road rehabilitation projects in Chingola and Kabwe.
The RDA will further launch the resettlement plan for the rehabilitation of the Mufuchane Bridge in Kitwe next month.
Earlier, AVIC International Project Engineering Company vice managing director Gong Jiayan said the firm is committed to undertaking the project, aimed at upgrading the road network to modern standards.
“We are sure that through this project, the flow of traffic in Lusaka will improve,” he said.
Mr Jiayan said apart from improving the road network, the firm will subcontract local contractors and create more jobs.
At the same occasion, Lusaka deputy mayor Theresa Funda hailed the project, saying the current poor state of roads has resulted in high motor vehicle maintenance costs and increased travel time.
Ms Funda, however, called on the public to avoid vandalism of road infrastructure and signage.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
BA lekeni bale voka PF is working silently. go my presdo MCS.
better news. Please stop talking and start working
Good move! Please ensure there is good maintenance plan. We cant be starting afresh all the time and this should be depoliticized to guarantee continuity.
Peri-urban roads should also be considered since this can also help reduce housing problems as well. Such programs can have a very good ripple effect on other sectors if well handled and promoted.
This is commendable…it provides us with something progressive to talk about away from political rhetoric although clearly this is dictated by Government involvement. Bravo PF!
The same should be extended to all parts of the country because Lusaka is not Zambia.HEMCS clearly knows that and he emphasised it during his time in opposition.
Zambia Forward.
My dear predictor without predictions, things are done one at a time. You should clearly know that. Have you ever seen someone building a house putting the floor, the roof and the windows at the same time? You might agree that it is better to start n the administrative and industrial areas and then move up to the provinces.
Bravo, continue working as others wallow in bitterness.
What will happen to the road network master plan developed with support from JICA under MMD. Please we want long term plans no shortcuts to please us. The money is too little for a good road net development for Lusaka City. When is the press conference for the CNP.
Excellent,
Madam Silvia Masebo, please consider your people in Meanwood, Ndeke Village along Airport Road, at least one main access road will help us, this Zulu guy is not doing anything there!!!
Atishani? Has anything been lined up for the eyesore that is Kitwe?? What use is all that copper being produced in that town when all the roads have disappeared and only dry streams remain? PF got the biggest support in the whole nation from that town. These people hired busses to storm lusaka when there was a delay in announcing the electoral results and this is the thanx they get? Nalemyeba, never trust politicians!
NoRich, ask people in Kitwe, you will be amazed that the road that leads to your mothers house or grans’ house is being tarred in Kitwe. They are currently making roads in Ndeke, Kwacha, Chimwemwe, Kamitondo, Buchi just to name a few. So speak only after you have gathered the facts not just politicising everthing for no reason.
Which part of kitwe are you? Road works are everywhere some roads into town are closed being rehabilitated. Its the same in Chingola, Mufulira, go to Luanshya mpatamato they now have nice clean roads in the residential area, we are on track with roads my brother! Problem is Zesco and water, very little or no improvement at all!
@Mwaka Chimuka
JICA’s project involves putting up new road infrastructure (ring roads, overpasses etc) away from the already existing roads. This project will run up to 2030. What PF is trying to do is to widen the already existing roads and put up side-walks so you can also cycle and also work on the junctions with a view to decongest the roads in 4 years…We can’t for JICA to finish their project in 2030 so this is alright as a short-term project.
What comments below the picture? I used Katima Mulilo when I was there. It is complete with only 2 lanes. What happened? Why start road projects when rains are about to start?
@NoRich
Looks like you don’t know, Mufuchani bridge is in Kitwe…and the idea is to have this bridge in place so that work can start on the other side of the Kafue river; that’s putting up a new Central Business District (A New City Center) that is planned with growth in mind. This project could not take off without the Mufuchani bridge being worked on. So the PF has a plan unless we are not following events.
Show us that you can work PF. Show us so that we vote for you in 2016. Its time to do the job now. Let the bitter and frustrated caders talk whil you concentrate on delivering. Well done.
@Kanyengambeta
Mwe Bantu kanshi bwaba shani? When RB started his projects the cry was that he was voting buying because we were nearing election time…now Sata starts something the ‘shout’ is the RAINS are approaching…well at least we are no where near elections…He was going to be accused of corruption too…Seriously the picture LT has used is an old one from the time work started on Katima Mulilo but this does not mean they cannot not still widen it….it will now be 4 lanes on each side…That is the PF at work!
I agree with you 100% my friend. Forgot this Zambian talk. They are good at talking even without putting facts together. A contractor will be on site by end of October for the Mufuchani bridge. Money is already there to relocate people in Musonda Compound to pave way for the road from Jambo Drive in Riverside Extension. We shall then buy plots on the other side of the Kafue in Kitwe East. Bravo Kitwe City Council.
rain season is around the corner. why didn’t we start road construction immediately after the rains. alo drainage system is not yet done….anyway good luck. hope we will have the roads on board soon.
@Flabbergasted,thanks for enlightening some of us who have been away for a while. Keep it up so you can dissolve some pebbles in this column
Power of China……..
I was in Zambia a few days ago and I could not believe what I saw. I begun to wonder why the ZWD always writes as if there is nothing happening in Zambia. I was impressed that roads are reaching the door step of my mum’s house in Ndeke Kitwe. At the pace that the PF is going, we can have a 70% dust free cities in Zambia in 10yrs. Its starts from somewhere, things cannot be done over night. PF on the move as others die with envy and bitterness. We forgive you for you do not understand anything.
Atleast the PF leadership had the guts to accept that they will go ahead with some MMD programmes e.g the road rehabilitation exercise.So how come you are attributing it to PF when the money and road map was already in place.PLEASE,not all of us can be fooled easily.
However i commend the incumbent government for realising that not everything the previous government embraked on was wrong and non beneficial to the Zambain people!
Thats a lie, the road is done and it aint no four lanes. The MDD started that project
#12 THANKS FOR EXPLAINING TO NORICH YOU HAVE SAVED MY TIME. SOME PEOPLE JUST TALK TO MARKET THE LITTLE THEY KNOW ABOUT ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING. ONCE AGAIN IT SEEMS LIKE MOST ZAMBIANS DON’T THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LONG TERM AND SHORT TERM PROJECTS. SHORT TERM PROJECTS FACILITATE LONG ONES. THERE ARE SOME BLOGGERS WHO ARE ASKING WHY PF DID NOT START WORK IMMEDIATELY. PF STARTED WORK IMMEDIATELY THEY ASCENDED TO POWER. THE PROBLEM IS MOST ZAMBIANS ARE NOT ANALYTICAL IN THEIR MINDS. THERE IS WAY ON CAN START IMPLEMENTING WITHOUT PLANNING. WE ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE MEDIA. THEY CONCENTRATE ON REPORTING ABOUT DEFUNCT CHAPS SUCH HH INSTEAD OF REAL DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES. IT’S HIGH TIME THE MEDIA CHANGED THE STANCE ON REPORTING. STOP REPORTING ON THE RANTINGS OF USELESS POLITICIANS OF HH TYPE.
The Kitwe-Chingola economic route needs to be rebuilt into a dual-carriage way now!
Lusaka is not the Republic of Zambia.
This is a commendable effort. However, I wish the Zambian government had contracted South Africans to work on those roads because they have a reputation of building good roads unlike the Chinese.
@ 18…those roads weredone by MMD…..
Rightfully put!
@18 San Jose.. Don’t waste your time reading the rubbish on watchdog.. They want to capitalise on the ignorance of our many brothers and sisters who have not been to Zambia in ages.. That section of Katima mulilo road around garden was started by PF and completed in a record 1-2 months.. The works were major cause major re-enforcement work was done to support heavy haulage along that road. Its the principal road for East-bound trucks that have come in from the North or south of the country.
there goes my president shame ka hh who has ka william banda as boxing and insults advisor .
@18 San Jose.. Don’t waste your time reading the rubbish on watc9h/d..o..g.. They want to capitalise on the ignorance of our many brothers and sisters who have not been to Zambia in ages.. That section of Katima mulilo road around garden was started by PF and completed in a record 1-2 months.. The works were major cause major re-enforcement work was done to support heavy haulage along that road. Its the principal road for East-bound trucks that have come in from the North or south of the country.
@23 Gale.. DO NOT LIE… Most township and inner roads have been started and done by PF.. they have been working and not putting up rubbish billboards that cost billions with RB’s face commissioning the construction. Today in Zambia you drive in kabanana / Chipata town ships, Wusakile and you be surprised to find roads down. you’ll be asking your self “when it was done”> thats why the majority of Zambians are quietly going about their business and not interested in HH, Milupi or Nervous’s battles with the police.
@Gule Wa M’kulu
The roads were indeed done by the MMD but the PF is RE-DOING them with a focus to widen selected roads and providing an intercharge solution for Kafue Roundabout (This, the MMD did not do). So why the fuss? Another factor you might have missed is that RDA will launch the resettlement plan for Kitwe, meaning they will work on the Mufuchani bridge which will allow for another project to build a CITY in Kitwe…what more do you want? I know it sounds far-fetched but that is what it means…and this has nothing to do with the MMD. “ If a fellow isn’t thankful for what he’s got, he isn’t likely to be thankful for what he’s going to get”
Akulu Mphuno: once insulted me for suggesting that in the short term, the government needed 10km delivery system for roads to decongest areas; and by 4 years; it will be a long stretch. See!! the guys have been working and you will be seeing the final results. My next suggestion is: please ensure that you include a system of employing and training young people on simple things. Do not mechanise everything, for instance, let drainage be done manually; as a way of allowing young men to get jobs. They can excavate; and build. I know Lusaka is rocky; but hey, its about job creation here.
why always the chinese? they have built some roads that didnt last 5yrs and pot holes were all over again. sometimes it doesnt hurt to pay a little bit more and have some of these western countries do the job so the roads can last decades.
RDA what about the Ndola – Mufulira road, are there any immediate plans to work on this road? This road has been neglected for a very long time and thieves have now taken advantage by attacking drivers and stealing their vehicles as the slow down driving on the bad patches of the road.
THE COPPERBELT IS WATCHING!!!!!
AFTER THE VOTES LUSAKA IS NOW THE ONLY ZAMBIA. TIME TILL TELL.
Road works are going on in all towns on the copperbelt, if you do not know this means you are sleeping too much move around and see whats going on! Roads are being constructed in Kitwe, Kalulushi, Mufulira, Chingola and Luanshya the only place i have not been in a while is Chililabombwe. Mwalibelela fye uku complaina all the time some of you, progress is there!
I wish the gov’t would dedicate a percentage of that money to road maintenance as well eg drainage, cleaning and repair; what’s the point of building all these roads which you then neglect for 2 years, a road is like a house it needs to be maintained to prolong its lifespan.
@ Badger,chingola kitwe road is something else.yesterday coming from chingola heading to kitwe a distance which covers 51 kilometer took me 5 hours due to lack of dual carriage way.any accident on this road nishi mwajama.I personally voted for PF so that they address this issue and hope THE PRESIDENT THROUGH THE MINISTRY OF WORKS will do something before i cast the next vote in 2016 am counting
@SHALL FIRE STOP BURNING… I do agree with you i was on that route too and had to pass through kalulushi to get into Kitwe and i was so pissed! The problem is our Grz always has to wait until people protest to do something, the reason we fired MMD! The Ndola – Kitwe dual carriage way is another dilapidating road and before we know it we will be taking 2hrs to cover that distance. I know the PF will not fail in everything but I also know that by 2016 we will still be complaining, even more. We just need a fresh breed of leaders i think the likes of Chipimo.. My prayer is the PF achieves atleast 50% performance by 2016 i will be glad my 2011 vote would not have been in vain, i still have a little hope…
Ladies and gentlemen not every road can be done at the same time, some roads will be done now some will be done later. The PF is just administering the budget for the first time and much is being done. A number of districts have been created and not much is happening because they were not budgeted for, I do expect this to be addressed in the next budget and we shall see that the PF means business. For those who dont know the direction the PF is taking read the presidents speach in parliament and you shall see that they have a direction after all.
Good that roads are being worked on.We plead with the government to tar roads in Kwenwena ,meanwood Chamba valley ,Lusaka area.It is dusty and become water logged in rainy seasons.We appeal to the honourable Micheal Sata for assistance.
mr chiwala in class you told us there is 8 trillion lying idle in the bank. why only 1.7 trillion? where is the 6.3?. i know you will turn around RDA. with you am 100% seeing corrupt free road tenders. you are man of wisdom and God fearing.
Where is the money coming from? This company was the one contracted to do the the failed mongu kalabo road, are we saying we are rewarding them in kind by transfereing that contract to lusaka urban roads? let us be transparent because we did not see any tenders advertised for such works
Chinese doing our road?!! what is the catch??
That will be nice. Let’s do it!
An excellent move that is long overdue.
Unlike the useless MMD who only thought about improving infrastructure at election time, this shows commitment to the welfare of all Zambians.
Oh, and MMD need to pay up for the fuel they got from a certain petrol station partly owned by Maureen Mwanawasa. Several billions I am told. If they had won, tax payers money would have no doubt been used to pay for this debt. Very good riddance
Do not play with Zambia.400km ,4years.What a slow and money digging deal