Infrastructure, Housing, and Urban Development Minister, Hon. Eng. Charles Lubasi Milupi, says the construction of the Lusangazi Bailey Bridge will enhance connectivity, reduce travel time, and strengthen economic activity in Eastern Province.
The Minister said this in Lusangazi District in Eastern Province yesterday when he commissioned the Lusangazi Bailey Bridge.
“The completion of the Lusangazi Bailey Bridge is expected to enhance the smooth movement of people from one place to another and support economic activities in Lusangazi District and surrounding areas.
“With this development, motorists will now cover 65 kilometres between Lusangazi and Petauke instead of the previous 120-kilometre detour through Sinda. This reduction significantly cuts fuel costs, travel time and vehicle wear, improving mobility and economic efficiency for residents,” Hon. Eng. Milupi said.
He said with the completion of the bridge, the people in the area were not only celebrating an engineering achievement, but restored and strengthened connectivity.
“The Lusangazi River has historically posed a major challenge, especially during the rainy season when crossing becomes dangerous and impossible. Today, that challenge is behind us. Communities can now move freely between Lusangazi and Petauke throughout the year without interruption—even during heavy rains,” Hon. Eng. Milupi.
Hon. Eng. Milupi has assured the people of Eastern Province and the country at large that the Government was committed to improving the road network to support the movement of people and goods, as well as economic activity.
He said several road and bridge projects were being undertaken with funding from the Treasury and the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Financing Model.
He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to infrastructure development, highlighting that twelve PPP road Concession Agreements had been signed between 2022 and 2024, along with several Treasury-funded projects currently underway.
Hon. Eng. Milupi disclosed that during the construction phase of the bridge, the labour force was expanded from the planned 30 workers to over 60 to support drought-affected families, offering essential income relief to surrounding communities.
The bridge now guarantees safe, uninterrupted year-round passage across the Lusangazi River, ending years of dangerous and impassable crossings during the rainy season.
Road Development Agency (RDA) Board Chairman, Eng. Eugene Haazele said the Lusangazi Bailey Bridge reflected Government’s continued efforts to enhance rural infrastructure and restore access to essential services.
Eng. Haazele noted that for many years, the Lusangazi River had expanded during rainy seasons, making the crossing impassable and preventing mothers from reaching health facilities, while children struggled to attend school.
“For many years, the Lusangazi River crossing on the Petauke–Ukwimi Road has been a source of hardship for our people. Each rainy season, the river changed course, expanded to more than 400 metres in width, and rose to water levels as high as 1.5 metres.
“During such periods, this road—one of the most critical connections between Petauke and the newly established Lusangazi District—became impassable,” he said.
He said the challenge persisted for many years, and it demanded a solution that was not only durable but also economically sound and immediately responsive to local needs.
“When our provincial office conducted a detailed survey, it identified a new crossing point—one with a far narrower river span of approximately 12 to 13 metres at the bed and 34 metres at the top.
“The banks were stable, rocky, and capable of supporting a permanent structure. This was a turning point,” Eng. Haazele said.
Eng. Haazele said even more fortunate was the availability of an unused bailey bridge from the Msuzi crossing on the Chipata–Lundazi Road.
Eng. Haazele said by redeploying these components, and focusing expenditures on the construction of abutments, approach roads, and transport of materials, the Agency was able to deliver a high-quality bridge at an impressively reduced cost of K5.5 million.
