Artistic impression of the interchange
* The entry point into Blantyre City on the M1 Road and access road to Chileka for Bakili Muluzi International Airport
* The project will not only ease traffic but also increase development and modernise the commercial city of Blantyre to international standards
By Duncan Mlanjira
The Ministry of Transport & Public Works has released Invitation for Bids for construction of an interchange at Kameza roundabout, the entry point into Blantyre City on the M1 Road.
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President Arthur Peter Mutharika directed the Roads Fund Administration (RFA) to start construction of the first-ever interchange in Blantyre.
The roads connect into Blantyre’s central business district (CBD) via Chirimba (old Chileka Road) and Magalasi (Chileka Road.
Along the Chileka Road, it is access to to Machinjiri all the way to Limbe CBD and in residential areas of Nyambadwe and Ndirande.
It also connects to Chileka for Bakili Muluzi International Airport and to Nkula Hydro Power Station and Kunthembwe.
The populous residential areas of Chilimba and Mbayani sit on the old Chileka Road, thus the roundabout gets to be very congested with traffic police made to be on spot to direct motorists during peak hours.
According to information, construction works for the interchange are expected to commence this year.
Government says the project will not only ease traffic but also increase development and modernise the commercial city of Blantyre to international standards.
This will be the first interchange in Blantyre and second in the country, after Area 18 Interchange in Lilongwe whose construction started under President Mutharika’s 2014-2000 administration.
The landmark interchange in Lilongwe
Meanwhile, Minister of Transport & Public Works, Jappie Mhango announced on Saturday that government will undertake emergency rehabilitation works on the deteriorated section of the M1 Road at Chiweta in Rumphi District within the next two weeks to ease mobility challenges.
The Minister made the assurance after inspecting the affected section of the EU-funded M1 Road rehabilitation project, saying an interim measure, contractor CHICO will lay gravel and construct concrete pads to improve the road’s passability ahead of the upcoming rainy season.
Minister Mhango at the site on Saturday
Roads Authority Chief Executive Officer, Eng. Joel Longwe and assured transporters that maintenance works will cover all critical sections to enhance road safety and ensure the smooth flow of traffic.
The 65.5-km Kacheche-Chiweta stretch is Lot 4 of the M1 rehabilitation project, which runs from the junction to Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) in Lilongwe to Chiweta in Rumphi District.
The Minister reiterated that Government remains committed to improving road infrastructure and facilitating safe, reliable and efficient transport across the country, as reported by the Ministry’s media platform.
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