Chipata Municipal Council has ruled out any possibilities of constructing a dual carriage way on Umodzi Highway.
Director of Engineering, Andrew Zulu says that a study conducted by a consultant in 2009 indicated that Chipata does not have a lot of traffic to have a dual carriage way.
Mr. Zulu told Breeze News that the consultant recommended that Umodzi Highway should instead be widened from 6.1 meters to 7 meters.
He says that this recommendation will be implemented, when government engages a contractor to carry out major tarring works from Luangwa Bridge on the Great East Road to Mwami border.
Mr. Zulu says that when widening the road, the contractor will also construct a cycle path and walk away on Umodzi Highway.
He further explained that when widening the road, the contractor will be expected to construct slip lanes on road junctions of Nasser, which leads to Down Shops, Lower Church road, which leads to Luangwa House and Shoprite.
Mr. Zulu says that plans to do these works have already reached an advanced stage, stating that Eastern Water and Sewerage Company, ZAMTEL and ZESCO, the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation were already asked to submit relocation cost estimates of their installations that will be affected by the road works.