Shimabala Toll Plaza to Get a K117m Upgrade

The Road Development Agency has awarded a K117.6 million contract to China Railway Seventh Group to upgrade and expand the Shimabala Toll Plaza, in a bid to ease the congestion that has long slowed traffic on one of Lusaka's busiest approach roads.

RDA Chief Executive Officer Nelson Chuma said the project will be completed within nine months, with the first three months dedicated to design reviews and approvals. The upgrade will increase the number of serving lanes and extend road approaches to improve traffic flow and boost revenue collection at the plaza.

The expansion comes as vehicle numbers on the road continue to rise. Road Transport and Safety Agency Director Amon Mweemba said 67,000 new vehicles have been registered this year alone - adding pressure to infrastructure that was not designed for current traffic volumes.

National Road Fund Agency Chief Executive Officer Daniel Mtonga said his agency is reviewing tolling stations across the country and exploring the use of technology to make operations more efficient - signalling that Shimabala may be the first of several upgrades in the pipeline.

China Railway Seventh Group Chief Executive Officer Roy Guo said the company is committed to delivering the project to the required standards and within the agreed timeframe.