Lilongwe City Council roll out phase 2 of roads upgrading: Impressed with phase 1

The Lilongwe City Council (LCC) says it is impressed with the K1.8billion first phase of road upgrading projects in the city saying all the contractors are on course.

LCC spokesperson, Tamara Chafunya, said in an interview on Friday that there had been no serious challenges in all of the phase’s three roads namely; the 4.01km Senti Bridge – Chenicheni Nchiti; 2.74km Area 36 – Pwetekere – Falls; and the 1.5km Chilinde Parish – Napham (Kawale).

Chafudya said the pace of the upgrading works had been very steady and she commended the contractors for their commitment towards the projects.

“We are very happy with the progress and all the contractors are working within the given time frame,” explained Chafunya, adding, “We are very certain that by end August, which is the deadline of the projects, all the three roads will be in usable form.”

She further commended the residents who had erected their structures in road reserve areas, especially in Senti, for their understanding and cooperation by demolishing their structures to let the road take its course.

“The greatest thing that ever happened is that there were no any conflicts or resistance from the people; we sensitized them through block leaders and councilors and they understood and pulled down their structures on their own,” said Chafunya.

She also announced that Phase II of the city’s roads upgrading programme would commence in September, immediately after Phase I and that the contractors had already been briefed on their scope of work.

The Phase II of roads upgrading program in the city is funded to the tune of K2.5bn and it will focus on 5 roads namely; Area 25 – Dzenza (1.03km), Chinsapo Police – Nguluwe Primary School (1.02km), OIBM – Malangalanga (0.75km), NCIC – ZBS – Ngwenya (2.69km), and Biwi – Chidzanja – Area 23 via Chipasula (3.2km).

According to Chafunya, the Council has engaged the same contractors who are currently upgrading the three roads in Phase I namely, TAII Construction, Mota Engil, and Plem Construction.

“The upgrading of the five roads is expected to be completed by end December this year,” explained Chafunya, adding: “The works in Phase II may run concurrently with Phase I because what we expect to see by end August in Phase I is usable roads but there might be some finishing which may spill over into Phase II period.”

She added that the Council anticipated smooth operations in Phase II saying with Phase I serving as a learning point to both the contractors and the Council, the two parties would be able make adjustments where necessary.

The full council of the Lilongwe City approved 12 roads for upgrading and with the eight roads ticked on the list there are four more roads to considered.

Recently, President Prof. Peter Mutharika toured the three roads in Phase I and he expressed satisfaction too on how the works were progressing.

Mutharika disclosed that after all earmarked roads in the cities were upgraded his government would take the projects to all districts.

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