THE Road Development Agency (RDA) says it would ensure that the K147.5 Million rehabilitation of the Kafue hook Bridge pillars which have developed cracks are completed within the 24 months timeframe.
RDA Board Chairperson Samuel Mukupa confirmed the development when he led a team of RDA officials and Journalists during a tour of road projects in Western Province.
Mr Mukupa urged China-Heinan construction who is working on the Kafue hook bridge to expedite its works so that the bridge which was built some 40 years ago does not deteriorate further.
He called on the contractor to ensure that a belly bridge is constructed within 6 months so as to enabler a smooth flow of traffic during the time the pillars of the bridge were being worked.
‘’ You have to ensure that the belly bridge is urgently constructed so as to allow a smooth flow of vehicles as the Government is in a hurry want to link Western Province with neighbouring Angola , therefore there is need for you to expedite the works on the bridge’’, Mr Mukupa said.
He added that when the works on the Kafue hook bridge are completed on time, tourists would be motivated to visit the Kafue National Park for them to see animals as they navigate the river.
China Heinan Assistant Resident Engineer Sivananthan Kokulakanta said the works on the bridge which commenced in August 2015 had delayed to commence because the contractor was negotiating with the Zambia Wildlife Authority( ZAWA) in order to allow his firm to set up a camp within the national park.
Mr Kokulakanta assured the RDA officials that the works on the bridge would be completed with the 24 months contract.
Meanwhile , Mr Mukupa said RDA was going to fully rehabilitate about 80 kilometres stretch from Tetatyoye to Kaoma district which was in a bad state.
He said although construction of roads during the rainy season always had its own challenge , the Agency would ensure that works which have been earmarked for rehabilitation are completed so as to fulfil the Government’s agenda of linking up the country .
Mr Mukupa said RDA was not only working on uplifting roads in Western Province to bituminous standards but was also rehabilitating the 17.3 kilometres stretch from Kaoma town centre to Mwenemutondo area which caters for the rural people who are predominantly farmers.
Western Province RDA Regional Manager Gershom Mwagombe said the agency was also patching up potholes on the Kaoma –Mongu road in order to ease the transport constraints faced by motorists.
Mygad, Chinese camping in a national park, my gad. That is the end of elephants and rhinos for their tusks and horn in that Park.
why worrysome, pay them frequent visit , and monitor them , arrest the criminal ,if found ,weather its local zambian or Chineses , most of the time its zambian connive the foreigner, one party could never succeed to do anything without another party
Show us the bridge pictures since you toured the bridge. Why show us a man on campaign trail over such an important story. Mad reporting Lusaka Times.
The correct word for the temporary bridge is a BAILEY BRIDGE, not belly bridge!
But then the PF RDA is there for their PF bellies, so I suppose they are more correct!
More contracts, more corruption, more “politics of the belly” for PF!
To have sanity back, vote HH into office and he will clean up all the mess brought about by the PF and MMD governments. HH is difficult to compromise that is why even Fred Mmembe hates him. There will be order in the nation in all sectors once HH takes over government.