President Lazarus Chakwera has committed to build more roads nationwide to ease transportation of goods and services as well as reduce traffic congestion, especially in cities.

The President made the commitment after touring the K7.6 billion Area 18 Traffic Interchange in Lilongwe which he said will require matching improved road network to ease traffic congestion in the capital city.

His statement comes days after he bemoaned the low status of the country’s cities and dilapidated road infrastructure connecting districts and regions.

During the tour, Chakwera—who was accompanied by Minster of Transport and Public Works Mohammed Sidik Mia and Japanese and Chinese envoys, among other dignitaries—walked from the underpass road to the upper road to appreciate the completion level of the locally funded interchange project.

Said the President: “I am happy that the road is coming to an end. I am also happy that we have commitments to build more roads so that the decongestion is not only about the interchange. It is also connected to other developments. I am very happy that all these things are happening at this time.”

The Area 18 Cloverleaf Traffic Interchange is located at the site of the then Area 18 Roundabout.

It boasts an upper road from Parliament Roundabout to Bingu National Stadium which was upgraded to dual carriageway.

The underpass also has a dual carriage on the M1 and is expected to be later connected to the planned Kanengo to Mchinji Roundabout dual carriageway.