Lusaka City Council says motorists heading into town on Great East Road must use signed diversions between Chelstone and Hybrid Roundabout from 25 August to 2 October 2026.
Key takeaways
- The town-bound carriageway will be closed from Tuesday, 25 August, to Friday, 2 October 2026.
- The affected section runs from Puma Filling Station near Chelstone Tank to Hybrid Roundabout.
- Drivers have been told to follow traffic signs and designated alternative routes, exercise caution and allow extra travel time.
- The council notice does not name the diversion roads or state why the carriageway is being closed.
- Commuters, public transport operators and businesses should adjust travel and delivery schedules for the six-week period.
Lusaka City Council has announced the temporary closure of Great East Road’s town-bound carriageway between Puma Filling Station near Chelstone Tank and Hybrid Roundabout. The closure took effect on Tuesday, 25 August 2026, and is scheduled to run until Friday, 2 October 2026.
The notice, signed by Town Clerk Oliver Muuka and dated 24 August, tells motorists to follow traffic signs, directions and designated alternative routes. Drivers are also being asked to exercise caution and allow more time for journeys through the affected part of eastern Lusaka.
What exactly is closed?
The restriction applies to the town-bound carriageway, not the entire Great East Road. The named section begins at Puma Filling Station near Chelstone Tank and continues to Hybrid Roundabout.
The council has not listed the roads that will serve as diversions. It has instead directed drivers to use the signs and instructions placed along the route. The notice also gives no daily operating hours or exceptions, so motorists should watch official Lusaka City Council updates for any change to the arrangement.
What motorists should do
- Leave earlier than usual, especially during the morning peak when town-bound traffic is heaviest.
- Follow temporary traffic signs and directions from officers on the ground.
- Use only the designated alternative routes rather than cutting through unfamiliar residential roads.
- Drive cautiously near work areas, merging points and temporary junctions.
- Public transport operators and delivery drivers should warn passengers and customers about possible delays.
Why Lusaka businesses should pay attention
Great East Road is a major route for workers, shoppers, public transport and goods moving from eastern Lusaka towards the city centre. A restriction on the town-bound side can lengthen delivery windows and staff travel times, even for businesses that are not located directly on the closed stretch.
Firms receiving morning stock should confirm delivery times with suppliers and avoid promising narrow arrival windows while the diversion is in force. Employers with staff travelling from Chelstone, Avondale, Chainama or the airport corridor may also need to allow for late arrivals during the first days, when motorists are still learning the alternative routes.
Great East Road maintenance was already under way
The Road Development Agency said on 12 August that routine maintenance teams were working along the wider Great East Road corridor from Airport Roundabout towards Chongwe, while a feasibility study was being prepared for full rehabilitation of the 225-kilometre route from Lusaka to Luangwa Bridge.
Lusaka City Council’s closure notice does not say whether the town-bound restriction between Chelstone Tank and Hybrid Roundabout is connected to that work. It also does not give a reason for the closure.
When will the town-bound lane reopen?
The council says the temporary closure runs until Friday, 2 October 2026. The notice does not specify a reopening time, so motorists should look for a formal update from Lusaka City Council as the date approaches.
For now, the practical message is simple: follow the signed diversion, slow down around temporary traffic controls and add time to any journey into town through the affected section.
Related coverage
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