By DELPHINE ZULU –
THE Road Development Agency (RDA) has signed a K305 million contract with Buildcon Investment Limited for the full rehabilitation of the Chingola- Solwezi Road covering 40 kilometres.
The rehabilitation of the Chingola – Solwezi Road which has been in a poor state  will be executed within 18 months.
RDA director and chief executive officer Kanyuka Mumba announced the awarding of the contract to Buildcon Investment Limited yesterday, added  that the road covers a total distance of 168 kilometres but the works had been divided into three lots or sections  to expedite the implementation of the project.
The Zambian contractor was expected to mobilise and move on site within two weeks.
RDA also announced its intention to construct a dual carriageway between Chingola and Mutanda to cater for the forecasted increase in traffic on the road.
Government is looking into alternative financing and implementation models to ensure that the project is undertaken expeditiously.
“Lot one, covers 60 kilometres from the junction of the Chingola-Chililabombwe road towards Solwezi, Lot two, the middle section covers 40 kilometres whose contract was signed yesterday, while Lot three covers 68 kilometres up to Solwezi Town,” Mr Mumba said.
Mr Mumba said the contracts for Lots one and three were awaiting clearance by the Attorney General’s office and would be signed once they have been cleared in the next two weeks.
He said it was regrettable that the Solwezi-Chingola Road has been in poor state for some time now and that it is the objective of Government through RDA to improve the important road link to provide an efficient transportation system to support copper mining and other economic activities between Copperbelt and North-Western provinces.
“As we know, North-Western Province is home to large mining houses such as Kansanshi Mines PLC and Lumwana Mines. Once completed, the safety for motorists and other road users will be enhanced, and travel time to and from Solwezi will be reduced,” he said.
The scope of works will include ripping the existing pavement, improvement of subsurface drainage in sections with high water table, construction of 6.8 metres  carriageway with 50 millimeters asphalt
concrete and two metres single seal shoulders complete with road markings and signage.
Mr Mumba also said RDA would start working on a by-pass road in Mazabuka District to avoid passing through the town centre.
He said six bidders had been shortlisted and would soon receive the price bids by June 12 this year.
“We shall move in quickly and work on a five-kilometer road that will pass through Mazabuka to Kaleya completely away from town to avoid accidents,” Mr Mumba said.