KARIB PROM

21st September 1956, Page 122

21st September 1956

Page 122

Page 123

Page 122, 21st September 1956 — KARIB PROM

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WHAT is believed to be the. largest concentration of commercial vehicle s, earth-moving equipment , and machinery ever seen in Southern Africa is now engaged on the construction • of the £113m. Kariba Gorge hydro-electric scheme in Northern Rhodesia. Playing a prominent part are 100 Bedfords—fixed-bodied lorries, tippers and tankers—some of which are seen at work in the accompanying pictures.

The main haulage contract has been let to Kariba Transport. Ltd., an offshoot of the United Transport Co., Ltd., Chepstow.

The Kariba Gorge scheme involves the damming of the Zambesi River with a wall approximately 400 ft. high. This will make the largest man-made lake in the world—approximately 250 miles long and 50 miles wide.

When completed — probably by 1960—Kariba will supply electric power to the territories of the Central African Federation, and such important industrial areas as the copper belt to the north and the Wankie coal mines to the south.

In addition to the transport of many tons of machinery and equipment to the site, other operations in which road transport plays a vital role are the construction of access roads, quarries, housing, a modern airfield complete with control tower, and a 700-ft.-long suspension footbridge, which is the longest bridge of its type in the world.

Visitors to the Commercial Motor Show from allover the world can see at 'Earls Court many of the British vehicles that are making possible the completion of such gigantic projects as the Kariba dam.

Some have been designed specially for arduous work overseas. Others, such as the Bedfords shown on these pages, are built for universal acceptance after rigorous trials at home and abroad. Whatever the need, British vehicles Meet it.