By SYLVESTER MWALE and NAKUBIANA MUMBUNA-
MORE than 55 per cent of the multi-million Kwacha Lusaka ring road project by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has been done, according the Lusaka City Council (LCC).
The Lusaka inner ring road project, which will cost more than K160 million, will link the south-eastern areas of Lusaka to the South Multi -Facility Economic Zone and Kafue Road.
LCC public relations manager Habenzu Mulunda said in an interview during the week that the contractor was currently on the site where significant progress had been made.
“A lot of work has happened because the contractor made it clear that he was not going to stop during the rainy season,” Mr Mulunda said.
“As we are talking 50-55 per cent of work has been done. The contractor is currently concentrating on the base course in readiness for the tar.”
Mr Mulunda said the significance of the ring roads in Lusaka could not be overemphasised as the city had continued to experience traffic congestion with limited roads.
He said apart from the increased number of cars in the capital, Lusaka had continued to expand rapidly without adequate roads.
A check by the Sunday Times during the week found that the contractor had completed the paving on the stretch from Kamwala to New Kasama residential area.
Works on the drainage system on the same stretch have also been completed, with the contractor scheduled to start putting tar on the road by next month.
However, it was discovered that the short stretch from Kamwala joining Kafue Road has not yet been worked on.