By JAMES KUNDA –
SIGNIFICANT progress has been made towards the completion of the construction of two key toll plazas on the Copperbelt Province.
The Levy Mwanawasa toll plaza on the Ndola-Kitwe dual carriageway is at 70 per cent.
On Sunday RDA board chairperson Samuel Mukupa toured the facility to check on the progress.
The construction of the toll plaza was being done by Avic International of China, with Bari Zambia Limited the consulting engineering firm.
Bari assistant resident engineer Selamawit Seid said the completion of construction of the facility would gobble up US$4.3 million.
“We envisage completion of this project in two, to three months,” Ms Seid said.
Mr Mukupa said the agency was eager to have the project completed in good time as the funds earned from tolling levies would be re-channelled to maintaining and improving road infrastructure countrywide.
Mr Mukupa also toured the Garneton toll plaza in Kitwe which is scheduled for completion on May 15, this year.
The project was being undertaken by Copperfield Mining services, a local contractor at a cost of K45 million.
Bari Zambia was also the consulting engineering firm on the project and its site manager Stanley Mulanga said the project was progressing well.
Mr Mukupa was cheered with the works, saying it was the agency’s view to ensure that more local contractors were engaged to undertake road infrastructure development projects.
Mr Mukupa also toured the Mwambashi Bridge to check on its stature after completion of works.
The Bridge was part of the works to build the Kitwe-Chingola dual carriageway by Sinohydro Construction Engineering Company of China at a cost of K894 million.
Mr Mukupa also expressed happiness at the improvement of 30 km of the Ndola-Kitwe dual carriageway by China Jiangxi corporation.