Minister of Transport and Public Works Jappie Mhango says emergency works on the Chiweta Escarpment in Rumphi District are expected to be completed within two weeks to ease transport challenges along the road.
Mhango made the announcement during a tour of the road to assess progress on the ongoing works and appreciate the challenges affecting construction and road users.
The minister said the contractor, China Henan International Cooperation Group (CHICO), will place gravel and construct concrete pads on the affected sections to improve the road’s passability.
The emergency interventions are being carried out along the Kacheche-Chiweta section of the M1 road, which forms part of an EU-funded rehabilitation project aimed at improving road infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Roads Authority Chief Executive Officer Joel Longwe has assured transporters and the general public that efforts are underway to address the current challenges and prevent similar disruptions in the future.
Longwe’s assurance comes amid growing concerns from motorists and other road users who have been experiencing difficulties navigating the affected sections of the escarpment, particularly where the road has become impassable.
Truck driver Davie Nkhoma has welcomed the planned improvements, expressing optimism that the completion of the emergency works will bring relief to transporters who have been experiencing prolonged delays.
Nkhoma said he had been stranded in Chiweta for days, highlighting the impact of the road’s condition on truck drivers and the transportation of goods across the area.
Motorists and other road users have been spending hours negotiating difficult sections of the road, disrupting the movement of people and goods.
The expected completion of the emergency works within two weeks is therefore anticipated to improve traffic flow and ease transport difficulties along the Chiweta Escarpment.
