The Great North Road stretches from Lusaka through Kapiri Mposhi to Mpika, Kasama and Mbala to Mpulungu – about 1,150km. It's all tar, and was upgraded from 1998 to so despite its variable state of repair, this is the region's main artery.

In 2003 the road from Lusaka to Kasama was tar in basically good condition. From Kasama to Mbala and on to Mpulungu the tar has more potholes.