Minister of Transport and Public Works Feston Kaupa yesterday opened the K37 billion Lilongwe Bridge with a pledge of government’s commitment to ease mobility challenges in the country.
The minister said the five-lane bridge, constructed with funding from the Government of Japan, will address traffic congestion in Lilongwe and boost connectivity as it sits on an important route.
Kaupa said the government is committed to ensuring good care, proper use and maintenance of the infrastructure.
He said: “This is a very important bridge as it sits on the M1, the road that connects Blantyre, Lilongwe all the way to Karonga and Tanzania. As such, you can appreciate the number of vehicles, the size of traffic that passes through this bridge.
“There is an extra lane to provide for traffic that goes to Bwaila Hospital to decongest traffic and allow traffic such as ambulances heading to the hospital.”
In his remarks, Japanese Ambassador Youichi Oya said his government’s support aims to improve mobility and transport efficiency in the capital city and beyond.
He said Japan has implemented the flagship project to help Malawi towards attainment of its long-term development goals outlined in Malawi 2063.
Oya said he was pleased that the bridge was completed ahead of schedule.
He said: “It is very exciting to see traffic passing this bridge today. And our construction work went on very smoothly way ahead of the original schedule. So today, it’s just the small ceremony for the opening of this bridge. But next year, maybe January or February, we will officially inaugurate this bridge.”
Tsoka Flea Market vendors chairperson Steve Magobo said he will ensure that the bridge is not turned into a market, noting that it will ease congestion which characterised the better part of the bridge.
Meanwhile, Roads Authority chief executive officer Engineer Ammiel Champiti has said the authority will demolish the makeshift bridges set up for pedestrians and motorists on both sides of the new bridge.
In a statement issued yesterday, he said the bridges were constructed for use between November 2023 and November 2025.
“The temporary traffic bridge was not constructed on a designated road area but on private land which was temporarily leased. This includes the contractor’s campsite. The temporary traffic bridge area will be restored and handed back to the respective landowners as part of the project’s environmental and social compliance obligations,” said Champiti.
The $21 million (about K37 billion) project has been funded by the Government of Japan and comprises a 78-metre bridge and a 900-metre road with a five-lane carriageway.
The project, undertaken by DAI Nippon Construction and Konoike Construction Limited, began in November 2023 and 96 percent of work has been done with full completion expected by March 2026.
The remaining four percent comprises decommissioning of the two makeshift bridges for pedestrians and traffic.
