National Roads Authority (RA) has revealed that constructors of 47 kilometres Liwonde-Matawale road to be on site by November, 2024.
RA Spokesperson, Portia Kajanga hinted this to the media Thursday during Media Tour on projects being implemented by Southern Africa Trade and Connectivity Project (SATCP) under Ministry of Transport and Public Works with funding from World Bank as part of the Nacala Corridor development.
She said RA has one done the prepared works and consultant for the road project are preparing bid documents.
“When we get no objection from our donors, World Bank, we will commence the construction works of the road from Liwonde up to Matawale in Zomba,” Kajanga narrated.
She said the Liwonde-Matawale road forms part of the Nacala corridor which connects the road from Lilongwe though Dedza to Balaka and was vital in moving goods and services.
“The road project is key to our transport sector and the other section of the road from Blantyre to Zomba was already done,” Kajanga explained.
The Spokesperson added that additional road section to be worked on include Liwonde to Nsipe which would help farmers and fishermen to carry out their goods to various markets within the corridor.
She said the project has unique features such two climbing lanes in which trucks would be using when going uphill to avoid delaying traffic on the road.
“We are expected to reconstruct three key bridges within the road section. We will provide safety features, widening the road with lanes to be used by all road users,” Kajanga echoed.
She said once the constriction start it would be expected to last for 18 to 24 months.
The Spokesperson expressed concern over the removal of road signs by unpatriotic communities within the new constructed roads.
Kajanga said the malpractice was retrogressive and should be condemned at all cost, measures should be put in place to apprehended the culprits and surrender them to Police.
“By removing road signs, you are compromising the safety of all users of the roads. We need to guard against this and we should strive to make our roads safety always,” she pointed out.
Project Coordinator for SATCP- Infrastructure, Sharmey Banda noted that the challenge the project would face would be removing people that have constructed permanent structures within road reserve.
He said issues of compensation would come into play in order for the people to move from where they are operating.
