— RDA to spend K 2.7 billion on road works in Muchinga province

RDA to spend K 2.7 billion on road works in Muchinga province

Mbala, January 14, 2015, ZANIS. …The Road Development Agency will
spend K2.7billion on road infrastructure development in Muchinga
province.

The K2.7b is being spent on the upgrading and rehabilitating of a
total 657 kilometres of roads under the link Zambia 8000 road project .

The agency has already issued contracts to various contractors in
various districts and 160 km has since been upgraded from gravel to
bituminous standard.

ZANIS reports that RDA Director Construction and Rehabilitation Kanyuka Mumba disclosed
this in an interview after winding up a tour of road projects with RDA board in Muchinga province.

Among the projects being implemented under Link Zambia 8000 in
Muchinga include the Chama – Matumbo road,  Chinsali-Kasama road,
Nakonde- Mbala road, Isoka – muyombe – Chama – Chadiza road and
Kasama- Mbesuma- Isoka road.

Mr. Mumba explain that other roads that include the Chinsali-Nakonde
road are undergoing rehabilitation to make them passable.

He said the overall physical progress on the 657 km stands at 45 per
cent and expressed hope that by June this year most projects would
have reached near completion.

Meanwhile 5000 km of roads are under construction countrywide at a
total sum of K22 billion.

RDA Board Vice Charperson Phidelia Mwaba who disclosed  this in Mbala today said that out of
5000kkm, 1700km have been tarred completely while 2,600km of roads are
at different levels and 2,500 km stretch is undergoing rehabilitation.

Ms Mwaba explained that rehabilitation of old roads have gobbled about
K11 billion while the other K11 billion has been used on the upgrading
of new roads.

She stated that so far the total progress on the projects stands at 48
percent and expressed hope that the project will continue at a faster
pace so that all districts are linked to each other.

She further disclosed that the Agency has launched a ten year road
maintenance strategy which will see all the old roads that are
deplorable get a facelift in order to prolong their lifespan.

Ms. Mwaba led a delegation of RDA board members and officials on a
conducted tour of road projects under construction in Muchinga
province.
ZANIS / ENDS / MM/MM. ……DRY