Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
HOUSING and Infrastructure Development Minister Ronald Chitotela says the full reinstatement of the road pavement on the Luangwa-Feira road which was damaged following the earth movement last month will cost about K10 million once completed.
Mr Chitotela has told Parliament in a ministerial statement that the Road Development Agency has since engaged China-Geo Construction Company to work on the road.
He says the preliminary report by the Geological Survey Department has confirmed the road failed due to differential stress of the earth material that lost cohesion and moved downwards on hill slope.
Mr Chitotela says the cause is a natural geo-hazard caused by water saturation due to the rains.
And Mr Chitotela says Government has released K1.1 million towards the rehabilitation of the washed away bridge along the Batoka- Maamba Road at Sikanungu village in Sinazongwe District.
He says the released amount has already been given to the Road Development Agency (RDA) regional office in Choma to commence the rehabilitation works.
Mr. Chitotela says mobilization of the components of the washed away bridge has since been completed and that the Zambia Army is mobilizing to the site.
Mr. Chitotela says besides the affected part of the Road, the Army will also install berry bridges at another part of the Batoka- Maamba Road which has been assessed by the RDA to be another weak point.