The Minister of Public Works, Urbanism, and Housing, Carlos Santos, stated that the Luanda city's road network is supported by main roads connecting it to the city center, highlighting that population growth has created several challenges to urban mobility.
Carlos Santos emphasized that other attempts had been made to complete the Corimba waterfront project in the municipality of Samba, but were unsuccessful "due to incompatible financing issues."
According to the minister, in 2016, the government signed a contract with China Railway CR20 to build a highway and supporting infrastructure connecting Praia do Bispo to Corimba. However, difficulties in qualifying for China's credit line hindered its execution "on several occasions."
In 2021, the Corimba viaduct was completed, but the contract was suspended and has not been executed to this day.
The governor emphasized that a study showed that the trip from the municipality of Talatona to the center of Luanda, a distance of 20 kilometers, can take between one and two hours during peak periods.
This, he said, "translates into a loss of economic productivity and increased transportation time and costs, in addition to a series of difficulties that arise, including some visible problems with macro-drainage."
The Corimba waterfront infrastructure construction project, to be implemented in three phases, expects the first phase to be completed in 20 months, at a cost of 245.2 million euros, for maritime works, construction of viaducts, the road, interchanges, and housing for the resettlement of families living in the intervention areas.
"This phase is responsible for providing the conditions for a visible reduction in travel time and costs after 20 months, with improved urban mobility and traffic," Carlos Santos added.
Speaking to the press, the Minister of State for Economic Coordination, José de Lima Massano, said that the project will rely on resources from the Portuguese line and also include a component from local banks.
"The initial payment for access to the line itself was made using local banks, and therefore we have guaranteed resources for the project—hence the note we issued to the contractors—to ensure that the benefits we envision for citizens can actually be delivered within the established deadlines," he emphasized.
José de Lima Massano emphasized that this is a "structuring, impactful" project that will impact several dimensions, emphasizing the construction of approximately 2,000 homes for families living "in less than dignified conditions, particularly in high-risk areas."
"The project is also transformative from an environmental perspective, and we are fulfilling our own sustainable development objectives, bringing conditions to the city, to this part of the city, in line with what we are envisioning for our National Development Plan, also regarding environmental protection," said José de Lima Massano.
