The 83 km long project road is in the Southern Region of Malawi and traverses the districts of Thyolo and Nsanje. The project road branches off from the Limbe – Thyolo – Muloza (M02) road at Nambala Wani in Thyolo district and extends southwards passing through Muona trading centre and ending at Makhanga trading centre in Nsanje district. The project road is joined by the East Bank (S152) road at Muona trading centre before joining the (M01) road at Bangula trading centre.
The project has many benefits to the people along the road and to the country as a whole. Some of the benefits include;
6.1 Boosting Agriculture
The road passes through tea estates which is one of the major forex earners for Malawi. Upgrading this road will ensure that there is ease of access to markets for farm produce.
6.2 Direct employment during construction
There is direct employment during construction which has a direct bearing on poverty reduction as many people including women are benefiting directly from the project, as some of them are being employed whereas some benefit through buying and selling of agriculture produce from their gardens.
6.3 Reduction in Vehicle Operating Costs
Reconstruction and Upgrading of the road will result in reduction of vehicle operating costs which constitutes the major benefit attributable to such new projects.
6.4 Reduction in Travel Time
The project will help reduce travel time from the agricultural rich Nsanje district towards the commercial city of Blantyre.