•AVIC International is currently expanding Mumbwa Road in Lusaka into a dual carriageway under the L400 Road Project. Above, workers from the Chinese firm on site. Picture by PASSY HAACHIZO.

By PASSY  HAACHIZO –
MORE than 70 per cent of works on the L-400 road project in Lusaka has been worked on at a cost of US $80 million, Works and Supply Minister Yamfwa Mukanga has said.
The L-400 is a road project implemented by the Road Development Agency (RDA) to upgrade 408 kilometers of township roads in Lusaka at a total of US $348.2million.
Mr Mukanga said during a tour of the road works yesterday, that it was gratifying that substantial works had been carried out, with the works expected to be completed in January, 2017.
Mr Mukanga was optimistic that the roads would be completed in time as the contractors were implementing the project at a commendable pace.
“People have been talking about the L-400 roads and about this project so far US $80 million has been used from the US $348,293,745, that has been allocated for the entire project,” Mr Mukanga said.
Mr Mukanga however, called on AVIC International, one of the companies implementing the project, to expedite the work so that they could embark on a similar project on the Copperbelt.
He also urged the RDA to carry out evaluations in Lusaka to ensure that the areas that needed some upgrade of roads were also catered for.
Mr Mukanga said there was no need for people to continue politicizing the road works because it started long before elections drew closer.
ILISO consultant director, Mususeni Mumba promised that the works would be carried out professionally and on time.
He noted that there was need to educate members of the public on the importance of avoiding disturbing road works.
Among the roads toured were Burma, Nationalist, Chilumbulu, Vubwi and Mumbwa.
Mr Mumba said it was unfortunate that some members of the public had continued using the roads even when they were being worked on.