Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Minister, Hon. Eng. Charles Lubasi Milupi has today commissioned the K7.7 million Kimasala-Mushitala Bridge connecting Mushitala and Kansanshi Mine to Kimasala, Zambia compound, airport and the Central Business District.
Before the construction of the bridge, the people around the bridge area faced hardships in their movements as well as delivery of goods and services.
Hon. Eng. Milupi said the construction of this bridge has led to the decongestion of the Kansanshi-Miteke Road which is highly congested during traffic peak hours.
“The Mushitala-Kimasala Bailey Bridge which has been constructed at a cost of K7,711,656.92 by the Road Development Agency Provincial Office, has created an alternative connection of Solwezi West to the East of Solwezi.
“This is the kind of development the New Dawn Government under the leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema is determined to bring across all parts of the country without segregation,” he said.
He said the works on this bridge started way back in 2015 but it has taken the New Dawn Government a short period of time to complete the bridge construction works and open it up to traffic.
RDA Board of Directors Chairperson, Eng. Mulchand Kuntawala said the Agency under Force Account in 2015 commenced construction works of the Kimasala- Mushitala Bridge.
Eng. Kuntawala said the project was motivated by the need to have an alternative route to connect the West to the East of Solwezi town and the design was a three span 48.8 metres composite bridge.
He said the project initially started in 2014 and the works stalled due to non-disbursement o f funds and at that point in time the progress stood at 40%.
“However, due to the high-water levels posing a challenge with construction works, and with the increased cost of materials, a change in the design was made to ensure tha t the construction was done at a reduced cost.
“The design was changed from a composite bridge to a bailey bridge. In June 2021, funds were released to transport t h e bailey bridge components from Mongu in Western Province to Solwezi,” he said.
Eng. Kuntawala said the new scope of works under the bailey bridge design involved: transporting the bailey bridge components from Mongu to Solwezi, spot improvement of the two access roads leading to the bridge construction site, construction of the embankments on either side of the existing abutments and extending the bearing shelf to receive the deck at the abutments and pier to accommodate the width of the bailey bridge.
Others works included assembling and launching of the prefabricated steel superstructure and casting of concrete approach slabs and retaining walls on both sides of the abutments.
Eng. Kuntawala said the works were completed on 30th April 2024 and the bridge was opened to traffic.
“This is another example of where a project was started way back in time, in 2014 to be specific, and not completed in time due to not undertaking the projects within the financial resource envelope. Key to delivering road projects to our citizens is through what we preach on a daily baisis – at the right price, of the right quality and in the right time frame,” he said.
