Mozambique has authorised Trans African Concessions (TRAC) to widen National Highway Number 4 (EN4), to accommodate increasing traffic volumes.

The authorisation is included in an addendum to the 30-year concession contract for the road signed by the governments of Mozambique and South Africa and TRAC.

The move seeks to address high levels of traffic, especially in sections 19 and 20, which will be widened from four to six lanes. More resources will be allocated to load control and increased compensation will be made available for infrastructure damage. Traffic on the EN4 has been steadily increasing over time, with current estimates indicating that 53 000 vehicles are using the road on a daily basis.

Part of the Maputo Development Corridor, the road is designed to promote trade between Mozambique and South Africa. Initially, the road linked Witbank to the port of Maputo and encouraged the development of industry in Mpumalanga, before being extended by 100 kilometres to reach Pretoria.

South Africa’s TRAC was selected through an international tender to manage the project for 30 years under a “Build, Operate and Transfer” system.