The Road Development Agency (RDA) has released about K1.4 billion towards the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Chinsali to Nakonde stretch on the Great North Road.

The agency has released K785, 773, 382.49 towards the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Chinsali to Isoka stretch while for the Isoka to Nakonde stretch, the agency has released K713, 866, 768.53.

RDA Director Elias Mwape says the contract has been awarded to China state constructing engineering limited to carry out the rehabilitation works.

Mr. Mwape says the contractor will work on a 103 kilometer stretch from Chinsali to Isoka.

And Mr. Mwape says the Agency has also awarded a contract worth K713, 866, 768.53 to China Railway Seventh Group Company Limited to reconstruct and rehabilitate a stretch from Isoka to Nakonde.

He says the contractor for the china railway seventh group limited will carry out reconstruction and rehabilitation works on a 107 kilometer stretch from Isoka to Nakonde including the urban section of the road to the border with Tanzania which he says is Lot two.

H says the project will be implemented concurrently, adding that the implementation timeframe will be 40 months.

Mr. Mwape says the Zambian government received the financing for the project from the African Development Bank which has contributed US$193 million, and Africa growing together fund amounting to US$50 million.

He adds that the Zambian government will provide counterpart funding amounting to US$12.76 million.

He further says the poor condition of the road is detrimental to the movement of goods, services and people and a major intervention has been deemed necessary to ensure that this critical route dose not present a transit bottleneck for trade in the region.

“The scope of works for the project will include, earth works, clearing and grubbing bituminous surfacing as well as the road signage and ancillary works,” he said.

The agency director says that the road carriageway will be widened from the current 6.1 metres to 7.0 and will include a harder shoulder of 2.0 metres wide in order to enhance safety.

Meanwhile, the agency has disbursed $241,180 Million towards Phase two of the L400 Road Project so far with a total of 146 kilometers covered.

RDA Corporate Affairs Director Masuzyo Ndlovu says the project is ahead of schedule as it was targeted to be completed by June 15 2020.

Mr. Ndlovu says 96 percent of the works have already been done.

He adds that about 1000 Zambians have been employed under the project as the 20 percent subcontracting policy is being followed by contractors.

Mr. Ndlovu was speaking in an interview with Money FM News over the phone.

The agency is expanding the 7km stretch of Lumumba Road from four to six lanes and is also expanding 10kms of Mungwi Road into a dual carriageway and part of the Great North Road up to Kabangwe.
The phase one project was done at a cost of K348 million.