Lilongwe traffic interchange opens for motorists’ use with mixed traffic experiences
The K7.6 billion Area 18 Traffic Interchange in Lilongwe has opened Monday morning for motorists’ use with mixed traffic experiences as some motorists found it easy to maneuver through the interchange sideway loops, others struggled with the same.
A woman found at the interchange said people are struggling to switch from one lane to another. She said after some time, people will get used.
The Area 18 Cloverleaf Traffic Interchange is located at the site of the then Area 18 Roundabout. It boasts an upper road from Parliament Roundabout to Bingu National Stadium which was upgraded to dual carriageway.
The underpass also has a dual carriage on the M1 and is expected to be later connected to the planned Kanengo to Mchinji Roundabout dual carriageway.
Motorists are pleased that Malawi is finally registered to have one road interchange When toured the interchange it was seen a lot traffic of traffic were using the interchange.
Roads Fund Administration Chief Executive Officer, Stuart Malata said there were a number of challenges which delayed the implementation of the project.
Malata said the new road has incorporated modern safety features such as separation of motorised and non-motorised traffic which has improved safety to road users.
The project financier , NBS Bank chief executive Oofficer , Kwanere Ngwenya said his company has pumped in K10 Billion towards the project.
Ngwenya said the project will have many benefits to the motorists in Lilongwe City and the public in general.
Such a great development..
One major design flaw is not having the loops enter the “main roads” at a 90 degree angle. This would have made it much, much easier to best judge when to enter the “main roads”. Entering at a slanted angle makes judgement on when to enter from the loops that much more difficult…you have to peek over your right shoulder instead of cleanly turning your head to the right to assess when best to enter the main roads. Also speed limits ought to be strictly enforced to reduce accidents in the interchange
Next week Chakwera is clocking 100 days in office. Tatiuzeni kuti kwanuko wapanga chani cholozeka! Or as a country, what can we mention as a milestone made by Chakwera in more than a quarter of a year in office apart from cheap talk? And why hasn’t Chakwera opened the Mutharika interchange with pomp? Akuwopa DPP itchuka? Majelasi akuphani abusa . Please tell Chakwera that there are so many landmark projects which APM started and are now completed and are ready for presidential opening such as the Mchinji Boarder post magnificent building, the three TTCs one per region, the Bwanje irrigation… Read more »
It’s too early for wapanga chiyani. Wamanga akuba ambiri a DPP ena akali mundende. That has sent a wonderful message to the outside world in terms of politics in Malawi. Peter amabelewa dzina lake Ali pampando .
Road Fund Administrators are saying it has costed them 7.6 billion kwacha. NBS is saying K10bn . Timve ziti? Mwayamba masamu okuba eti?
Koma ma service fee inu a NBS mkutidura kwambiri
I think Malawians need to have civic education about using interchanged roads in S.A. there is alot of them
Thanks to those who initiated and sponsored this project.Its a small step towards creating good infrastructure
The Kaunda road is a nuisance because of Ntandire people who cross the road like dogs and goats. Something has to be done there and the best is to road over pedestrian crossing and special turning points. There is also congestion at the roundabout at Bingu International Stadium. The interchange will not help that much. This is like a Shire River flowing into Mwanza River. What happens to Mwanza River? The whole highway joining the road to Bwandilo or Kaunda Road. Kaya tiwona.
We need development like this for the country to go forward hand to the past government and the financier .We expect more from new government.
The traffic congestion heading to Bwandilo from the interchange is unavoidable because it is caused by the single lane bridge at Lingadzi River. The wise thing to do was to amend the contract with the contractor to include construction of the bridge.
Similarly, the stretch between Amina roundabout on Paul Kagame road and KCH roundabout on Kenyatta drive should immediately be dualised. It is only about 500 meters.