Effects of Road Infrastructure Development on Local Community Household Income: A Case study of Lusaka - Ndola Dual Carriage way Construction in Chibombo Area

This study examined the effects of road infrastructure development on household income in Chibombo, Zambia, focusing on the Lusaka-Ndola Dual Carriageway construction. The specific objectives were to assess the influence of road infrastructure on access to income-generating activities, evaluate the relationship between road development and household income levels, and investigate the perceived benefits and challenges of the road project. A descriptive survey design utilizing a mixed-methods approach was adopted, with 100 households selected through stratified random sampling. Primary data were collected using a questionnaire, and data analysis was performed using Megastat. The study revealed that the Lusaka-Ndola dual carriage way road project has improved access to customers, with 76% of respondents reporting an increase. The road project has also attracted new buyers to the area (82%) and enabled respondents to travel easily to sell their goods/services (76%). The chi-square test showed a statistically significant association between improved road access and business income increase (χ² = 177.14, p = 0.00). The study found that 64% of respondents reported an increase in household income since the road was constructed. The majority of respondents (70%) were able to diversify their income sources, and 64% believe that their household is now better off economically than before the road project. The hypothesis test results suggest that respondents tend to be neutral or slightly agree that their household income has increased since the road was constructed (mean = 2.230, t = 1.73, p = 0.0437). The study revealed that the road project has improved access to health facilities (100%), and 58% of respondents believe that safety has improved with the new road infrastructure. However, some challenges were reported, including concerns over displacement (18%) and limited improvement in school attendance (28%). The regression analysis showed a moderate positive relationship between the independent variables (percentage increase in access to health facilities and number of investments attracted) and the dependent variable (quality of life) (R² = 0.329, F = 23.80, p = 3.89E-09). The study concludes that the Lusaka-Ndola dual carriage way road project has had a positive impact on local livelihoods, with improvements in household income, access to health facilities, and economic opportunities.