In a statement, the Authority explained that the road project which had experienced delays for a while due to land acquisition along the National Park section is currently at 98 percent completion/KENHA FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 23 – The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) says that the construction of the Nairobi Southern Bypass is due to be completed by Thursday next week.
In a statement, the Authority explained that the road project which had experienced delays for a while due to land acquisition along the National Park section is currently at 98 percent completion.
It pointed out that works in most sections of the bypass is completed with the contractor just winding up.
“The main purpose of the bypass was to allow for passage of through traffic from Mombasa Road to Gitaru with minimal interference. To minimize interruptions, there will be no access to the bypass except via any of the five interchanges,” the statement said.
It further indicated that the design speed for the bypass will be 100kph for through traffic.
“Previously through traffic had to go through Nyayo Stadium round about, CBD, Westlands and Kangemi together with traffic destined for those areas,” it stated.
China Road and Bridge Corporation the contractors of the Nairobi Southern Bypass project were contracted in November 2010 by the Government through KeNHA to carry out design and construction work .
The works have been carried out through EPC Contract (engineering, procurement and construction) and consists of the construction of dual carriageway with a length of 28.6kilometres with 12 kilometre slip roads and an extra 8 kilometre service roads.
The Nairobi Southern Bypass starts from the junction of Mombasa Road interchange and ends at Kabete- Limuru Road at Kikuyu town.
The road crosses the National Park westward then goes through Lang’ata Road, Ngong Road Motoine River, Dagoretti Road, Thogoto Road then passes over Ondiri River and a railway line towards Kikuyu town.
Some of the main features along the road project include full clover interchanges at Mombasa Road Ngong Road, bridges at Community, Dagoretti, Thogoto and Kibera, box culverts have been used for drainage purposes and access provisions.
“A total of 25 box culverts and 5 interchange bridges have been completed with all service roads except for two have been completed, marked and opened to public traffic,” the statement said.
The Nairobi Southern Bypass is partly funded by the Government of Kenya through a partnership with China’s EXIM Bank at a cost of up to Sh18 billion.
The bypass will ensure that transit vehicles especially heavy trucks destined for neighbouring countries are removed from the Nyayo stadium, City Centre and Westland section of the highway.
The bypass is expected to decongest the city by diverting a substantial volume of traffic from Uhuru Highway, increase mobility of through traffic and connect the residents of the area.
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