Construction works on the Lusaka-Ndola dual carriageway are expected to start next month. This follows the awarding of a 25-year contract to the concessionaire, Macro Ocean Investment Consortium. Road Development Agency (RDA) through the acting chief executive officer Grace Mutembo reported the concessionaire will initiate preliminary work on the existing alignment.
The Lusaka-Ndola Dual Carriage Road is jointly funded by the Zambian government, the Africa Development Bank, and the international donor community. It was granted to China’s state-owned China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) in February 2020. This Lusaka-Ndola Dual Carriage Road estimated at $1.3 billion, is a major infrastructure development initiative that seeks to reduce travel time.
The project will reduce the travel times between Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, and Ndola, its economic capital. Additionally, special measures have been put in place to ensure that the construction works are done in an environmentally-friendly manner. Therefore, the natural beauty of the region is not disturbed during the construction phase.
Expectations of Lusaka-Ndola Dual Carriage Road once completed
The concessionaire will be achieved while working towards achieving financial closure. Ms. Mutembo said the consortium will also undertake the construction of by-pass roads in Kabwe and Kapiri Mposhi. Additionally, the construction of the bypass roads will be achieved concurrently with the main road construction. Moreover, Ms. Mutembo says the contractor will also rehabilitate 45 kilometers of the Luanshya-Fisenge-Masangano road.
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Additionally, the road will convey economic prosperity to the region, as it delivers access to natural resources in the area. During the construction phase of the Lusaka-Ndola Dual Carriage Road, a substantial amount of employment in the region will be created. The road will provide job opportunities for thousands of Zambians in the long run.
The improved infrastructure will further benefit agricultural interests by providing access to markets. Additionally, the road will significantly benefit the local community by providing safer travel.
