GOVERNMENT has signed a K160 billion road deal with Shimizu Corporation of Japan to kick-start the construction of ring-roads in Lusaka under the phase one project.

Phase one, which is scheduled to start within 30 days, includes the construction of an inner ring road south of Lusaka, a link road, drainages and other road facilities.

The road works would link Kasama Road in State Lodge area to Mosi-Oa-Tunya Road in Woodlands to the Lusaka South Multi-Facility Economic Zone and further connect to Kafue Road.

It would also include the improvement of Ben Bella Road and link it to Los Angels Road in Chibolya and Kanyama townships.

Local Government and Housing Deputy Permanent Secretary Bernard Namachila announced the signing of the agreement in a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday.

The contract was signed in Japan on November 22, this year and the funds for the construction had been provided by the Japanese Government.

This followed the grant agreement signed between Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Zambian Government last year.

The ring road would enable motorists that have no business in the central business district to avoid passing through the town centre.