Africa-Press – Angola. The Corimba Viaduct, inaugurated on Tuesday (1) in Luanda, which cost the state coffers around US$32 million, will help ease traffic in the south, specifically on Estrada da Samba.
The work was inaugurated by the Minister of State for Economic Coordination, Manuel Nunes Júnior, in the presence of the Minister of Public Works and Spatial Planning, Manuel Tavares de Almeida, and the governor of Luanda, Ana Paula de Carvalho. This project (located in the District of Samba, municipality of Luanda), began to be implemented in 2018, with the participation of 95 percent of the national workforce.
It is expected that with the opening of this road there will be greater fluidity in local traffic and mobility for motorists who transit from the south of Luanda to downtown, passing through Estrada da Samba, in a route that also has another viaduct, in the Zamba 2 area, built approximately 15 years ago. The expectation is that with the opening of this road, citizens residing in Benfica, Talatona, Futungo, Patriota and part of Morro Bento will circulate with few constraints to downtown.
According to the Minister of Public Works and Territorial Planning, the viaduct is part of the Marginal da Corimbra project and has the function of avoiding the crossing at the same level on the Samba road. Manuel Tavares de Almeida explained that the viaduct will allow vehicles leaving the city to pass over and those entering will have access to the waterfront to pass below.
“Traffic on this road will be more fluid and vehicles will no longer pass in front of the Morro Bento condominium”, said Manuel Tavares de Almeida, adding that the financial framework for the Marginal da Corimba project is nearing completion, with only , payments are made, through a credit line from China, so that the works can begin to be executed.
Manuel Tavares de Almeida said that for the execution of the works on the Marginal da Corimba, demolitions of residences are planned and the resettlement of citizens is safeguarded.
He announced that the Corimba Marginal project is budgeted at around US$81 million, with three lanes in each direction, as well as a dual carriageway that will give access to the Marginal itself.
The new Marginal, he said, will also have air tickets, to avoid interference in the fishing port of Mabunda or access to the Mausoleum.
Cleaning of drainage ditches in priorities
The minister of Public Works and Territorial Planning announced that the priority of funding for this phase of the works in Luanda is aimed at drainage ditches. Manuel Tavares de Almeida explained that drainage ditches are a priority, due to the great problem they have caused in Luanda, especially in public health.
Regarding the construction of secondary roads, the minister highlighted that the situation is decentralized, being now under the responsibility of the provincial governments, discarding the responsibility of the Ministry of Public Works, according to the National Road Plan.
The minister also said that the completion of housing projects only depends on the pace that each contractor imposes. “Our intention is that they finish as soon as possible, to be distributed to the population”.
On the occasion, the provincial governor of Luanda, Ana Paula de Carvalho, assured that several works are underway to improve road traffic in the country’s capital. “At this time, the existence of the viaduct is not so noticeable, but the project contemplates the mobility of the Marginal da Corimba”.
50 year warranty
The Corimba Viaduct was built to last 50 years, following the maintenance and preservation process. The guarantee was given yesterday by the works director of the company that built the Corimba Viaduct, Mário Costa, adding that some works are not being completed because of non-compliance with payment deadlines.
The construction of the viaduct guaranteed 250 direct jobs and more than 700 indirect ones.
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