The Road Development Agency (RDA) has signed a K177.6 million contract for the design and expansion of the Shimabala Toll Plaza along the Lusaka-Kafue Road, in a move aimed at easing congestion and improving traffic flow along the Southern Corridor.
The nine-month design and build contract has been awarded to China Railway Seven Group Limited, in a joint venture with Grand Seven Limited. The project will involve three months of design and review, followed by six months of construction.
Speaking during the contract signing ceremony, RDA Director and Chief Executive Officer, Eng. Nelson Chuma said the expansion was a significant step towards modernising Zambia’s road infrastructure and improving the efficiency of one of the country’s key tolling facilities.
Eng. Chuma said the Shimabala Toll Plaza, which was commissioned in 2018, had experienced increasing traffic volumes over the years, resulting in congestion, delays and longer waiting times for motorists.
He said the original configuration of three lanes in each direction, together with limited approach roads, had come under increasing pressure as traffic volumes continued to grow.
“The expansion of this plaza is intended to enhance traffic flow, reduce congestion and waiting time, improve revenue collection efficiency and provide a better experience for motorists using this strategic corridor,” Eng. Chuma said.
He said the project would increase the number of tolling lanes and extend the approach roads on both sides of the plaza.
Eng. Chuma further disclosed that the contractor would undertake the design during the first three months, after which the designs would be submitted to RDA for review and approval before construction begins.
He urged the contractor to mobilise promptly, adhere to the agreed timelines and maintain high standards of quality and safety while ensuring that the project is delivered within budget and to specifications.
“As RDA, my team will rigorously provide oversight to ensure that we achieve value for money. This signing ceremony is a testament to our commitment to modernising Zambia’s infrastructure. We are not just pouring concrete; we are opening a lane for economic prosperity,” he said.
Meanwhile, National Road Fund Agency (NRFA) Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Daniel Mtonga, said the expansion would provide much-needed relief to motorists using the Lusaka-Kafue Road.
He explained that when the Shimabala Toll Plaza was commissioned in 2018, it had a designed traffic capacity of approximately 7,500 vehicles per day, while traffic volumes at the time stood at about 5,000 vehicles per day.
However, traffic volumes have since increased beyond the facility’s capacity, creating operational challenges for the Agency managing the toll facility.
Mr. Mtonga said the Agency was also embracing new technologies to improve tolling operations and reduce travel time for road users.
He disclosed that NRFA will be piloting an express tolling system using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, with Shimabala expected to be one of the pilot toll stations.
Under the system, motorists would use an electronic tag which would be detected by a transponder mounted at the toll station, allowing vehicles to pass without stopping.
He said the expansion of Shimabala Toll Plaza would provide an opportunity to dedicate additional lanes to the new technology, further improving traffic flow.
Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) Director and Chief Executive Officer, Eng. Amon Mweemba also welcomed the project, describing Shimabala as a critical gateway to Zambia’s Southern Corridor.
He said the corridor connects Lusaka to Livingstone and provides access to major markets in Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa, while also supporting tourism and regional trade.
The RTSA CEO said congestion at the toll plaza had become a major traffic management challenge, with motorists sometimes spending hours in queues due to inadequate capacity.
He noted that traffic volumes continued to rise, with the country’s vehicle population increasing significantly during the first half of 2026.
He welcomed the planned introduction of modern drive-through tolling technology, saying its application at other busy toll plazas could help expedite the movement of motorists.
The RTSA further pledged to work closely with RDA and the contractor to manage traffic during construction and ensure that the road remains operational throughout the expansion works.
China Railway Seven Group Chief Executive Officer, Roy Guo, expressed gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Zambia, RDA and other partners for entrusting the company with the project.
He said the signing represented more than a contractual obligation, describing it as a reflection of the growing partnership between Zambia and China in infrastructure development.
Mr. Guo said China Railway Seven Group had undertaken several infrastructure projects in Zambia and expressed the company’s commitment to contributing further to the country’s development.
The Shimabala Toll Plaza expansion is expected to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion and waiting times, enhance toll revenue collection and support the efficient movement of people and goods along the Lusaka-Kafue Southern Corridor.
The project is also expected to complement the adoption of modern tolling technologies and contribute to improved efficiency at one of Zambia’s strategically important transport facilities.