What you need to know about the Lusaka Decongestion Project

After much speculation casting doubt over the Lusaka Decongestion Project, the project kicked off today, April 12 at a ground breaking ceremony officiated by Indian President Ram Nath Kovind.

The idea of the project emerged in 2008 when the Ministry of Local Government, it’s local authority – Lusaka City Council (LCC) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) re-planned the road network. The overall aim of the project is the redesigning of the major road network for Lusaka city with a view to reducing traffic jams, travel time and distances.

According to the then Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development Ronald Chitotela the project, will see the creation of a ring road that would start from the Great East Road, through Kenneth Kaunda International Airport to the Great North Road in Chisamba district.

“Apart from implementing phase two of the Lusaka L400 road project, the Indian government has come up with this project which will also cater for street lighting, by-passes, construction of roads in Kasisi and other areas and putting up drainage systems among other things with the aim of beautifying Lusaka City,” he said.

Mr Chitotela said once implemented the project will create about 10,000 jobs in the capital city.

The project is being financed by the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) and Exxim Bank of India at 15% and 85% respectively. The project is expected to take 36 months to complete.

MAIN FEATURES OF THE PROJECT

• The project will cost $289 million.

• Rehabilitation and upgrading of 91.4 km of ring road; There will be a new outer ring road from Kafue road (Makeni) to new Mumbwa road. It will further stretch to Lusaka West and join the Great North Road (Kabwe road) on Chikumbi road.

• Other 4 points of road expansion will be Church-Cairo junction, Kabulonga roundabout, Highcourt roundabout, Longacres roundabout and Mosi-O-Tun

• Other 4 points of road expansion will be Church-Cairo junction, Kabulonga roundabout, Highcourt roundabout, Longacres roundabout and Mosi-O-Tun

• The total road works is 120.7 km 

• Roads and bridges will be put up at Kafue roundabout that will filter away from town, at Long Acres and Kabwe roundabout.

• Major township roads such as Kasangula, Lake-Mwapona, Nangwenya, Zambezi, Alick Nkhata, Munali-Mutumbi Kamloops and Buyantanshi will be extended to 4 lanes.

• Major city roads such as Ben-Bella, Kafue, Great East (kabwe roundabout-palm drive), Independence and Kalambo roads will be extended to 6 lanes.

• All roads will have modern streetlight fittings.

• The roads will have dedicated lanes for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT).