Nairobi Expressway. Image Charleen Malwa

Works on the Nairobi Expressway is at 60 per cent, the Kenya National Highways Authority announced on Tuesday as it urged Mombasa Road commuters to use the railway.

Motorists using Mombasa Road were asked to terminate their journey at Syokimau Railway terminus to the city centre as part of efforts to ease congestion on the stretch that is under construction.

The authority further announced the JKIA-Mlolongo section will be restored on September 10, the Westlands-James Gichuru section on September 30 and the Haileselassie-University of Nairobi roundabout on October 15.

It noted that works on the elevated section of the road is now 73 per cent done.

Kenha acknowledged that there has been disruption of traffic flows along the Mombasa Road owing to the ongoing construction. It said it had partnered with the Kenya Railways to introduce additional wagons to offload travellers from the road.

The authority assured that vehicles parked at the terminus will be secure when owners leave to go to the central business district.

“We also urge all motorists to exercise caution as they drive along this road and keep within the speed limits indicated along with other traffic signs. We appeal to all road users to exercise road courtesy as that will help manage traffic better,” acting director general David Muchilwa said.

Muchilwa said the authority is determined to fast-track the ongoing works and promised to provide adequate diversions for smooth flow of traffic. He said a multi-agency team has been established to guide traffic control interventions.

The official said construction sites will have adequate and well-signposted lanes, well-defined U-turn points and there would be rapid intervention in case of accidents.

He said there has been recorded positive progress on the earthworks along the JKIA-Mlolongo section of the road.

The section was earlier identified as one where motorists experienced extreme traffic congestion.

China Road and Bridge Corporation is working day and night to build the Sh62 billion road.

Traffic snarl-ups in the Nairobi metropolis are estimated to cost the country Sh2 billion annually.

Sections of the expressway will have eight, six, and four lanes based on traffic projections.

There will be a four-lane dual carriageway from Mlolongo to the Eastern bypass and a six-lane dual carriageway from the Eastern bypass to the Southern bypass.

There will be a four-lane dual carriageway from the Southern bypass to St Mark's Church in Westlands and a four-lane dual carriageway from St Mark's Church to James Gichuru road.

With the completion of the multibillion-shilling project, it will take between 15 and 20 minutes to cover the 27km stretch which starts from African Inland Church, Mlolongo, all the way to James Gichuru on Waiyaki way.

The project is under the Build Operate Transfer contract, meaning that CRBC will build and operate the expressway for 27 years to recoup the money it has spent to put it up.

CRBC is set to pocket Sh106.8 billion as profit for the 27 years. After that, it will hand over the project to the government. - ALLAN KISIA, The Star