Zambia awaits $75.5m Japanese grant for new Luangwa bridge, as pre-feasibility study concluded

Government says plans to construct the US$75.5 million new Luangwa Bridge on the Great East Road is progressing, as pre-feasibility study stage has been concluded.

Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Minister, Charles Milupi, says Cabinet at its sitting in February last year, approved the construction of the new Luangwa Bridge in order to increase the traffic capacity in the Nacala Corridor, facilitate the distribution of goods.

Milupi said the new bridge is also expected to improve the movement of passengers around the country and the neighbouring countries, and thereby triggering economic growth and industrialization.

He said government is aware that the existing Luangwa Bridge has been in use for more than 50 years, from the time it was constructed in 1968.

“As such, the maximum weight of vehicles that can currently pass through the bridge is limited to 55 tonnes while the maximum speed is limited to 30 kilometers per hour and currently, only a single heavy goods vehicles is allowed to pass at any given moment,” Milupi said.

He said in terms of the financing of the new Luangwa Bridge construction project, the total cost of constructing the bridge is estimated at US$75.5 million.

Milupi said out of this amount, government is expected to only contribute approximately US$7.5 million as counterpart funding while the difference estimated at U$67.95 million, is coming from the Japanese government through the Japanese International Cooperation Agency.

“Currently, a pre-feasibility study has been concluded, and what is being awaited is approval of the grant from the Japanese government,” he said.

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