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Mozambique: Mota-Engil among three contractors repairing sections of N1 – Watch
10:34 CAT | 18 Aug 2023
Photo: Ministério das Obras Públicas, Habitação e Recursos Hídricos-MOPHRH
Mozambique’s government has announced that three companies, including Portugal’s Mota-Engil, are carrying out emergency work to rehabilitate the critical areas of National Road 1 (N1), in an attempt to solve the traffic problems on the country’s main road.
“We have awarded the contract to these companies, and we hope that the work goes smoothly and quickly,” said the Minister of Public Works, Housing and Water Resources, Carlos Mesquita, during a visit to Caia, Sofala, in the centre of Mozambique.
Minister Mesquita visited the stretch of the N1 between Nhamapadza and Caia: He explained that the works ,being carried out on four sections of the N1 highway by contractors Karina Construções, Concity and Mota-Engil Africa, consist of removing asphalt in some of the sections and filling holes in others.
READ: World Bank formalises support for repair of main north-south highway
“In the sections where the contractors are removing the asphalt, they use it to mix with other materials to provide the necessary resistance,” the Minister explained.
The works awarded to the three contractors comprise four sections of the N1, namely Inchope-Gorongosa, Gorongosa-Muera, Muera-Nhamapaza and Nhamapaza-Caia, covering a length of around 320km.
Carlos Mesquita revealed that the work started this month and has made it possible to recover a third of the total kilometres to be repaired.
The N1 crosses the country, linking the city of Pemba, in Cabo Delgado province (north), to the city of Maputo (south), covering 2,477 kilometres, but it is almost impassable at several points.
“We came to witness the work that is being carried out on this road that links the north to the south of the country (…) We found that it is running smoothly, and the contractors are trying to finish within the planned period,” he said.
The Minister added that although the work is going smoothly, the companies will still have to create additional teams to work on the most critical sections in order to speed up the pace of the work.
According to the Minister, the contractors are prioritising drainage in order to allow rainwater to drain away.
“Once the work is completed, this road will boost the country’s economy, and residents in the areas adjacent to the N1 and passengers are eager to see the work finished,” he said.
Carlos Mesquita also revealed that the contractors on the N1, in addition to carrying out the work in progress, have made a commitment to remain on the ground during the rainy season, which begins in October, so that they can respond to specific situations.
Tender launched for Inchope-Muxúnguè stretch
Carlos Mesquita also spoke about the Inchope-Muxúnguè stretch, revealing that the public tender for the rehabilitation works was launched on Monday and that the contractor will be chosen within 30 days.
“We expect the contractor to start organising the equipment in mid to late September,” he said, revealing that it was important for the work to begin before the coming rainy season.
Source: Lusa / Ministério das Obras Públicas, Habitação e Recursos Hídricos-MOPHRH
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