The construction is expected to cost Sh17.3 billion and will be funded through a concessionary loan from the Government of China/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 2 – The Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA) has signed a contract with China Roads and Bridges Corporation to carry out feasibility studies and designs for the construction of the Nairobi Western Bypass.
The construction is expected to cost Sh17.3 billion and will be funded through a concessionary loan from the Government of China.
The Kenya National Highway Authority Corporate Affairs Manager Charles Njogu says the proposed four lanes highway measuring 16.5 kilometres with a design speed of 100 kilometres per hour will connect the southern bypass at Gitaru and northern by bypass at Ruaka.
Njogu says the Bypass has been identified as a link necessary for the completion of a system of ring roads around Nairobi city aimed at easing traffic in the Central Business District.
“The Nairobi Western Bypass project will be implemented as an Engineering, Procurement and Construction Contract (EPC) and will include facilities like walkways on each side at Wangige, Kihara Ndenderu and Ruaka Townships, underpasses for pedestrian traffic at market centres, a bus terminus at Wangige among others,” Njogu stated in a statement.
Other facilities include noise barriers on interchange slip roads at Ruaka to minimize noise disturbance on resettlements and a central steel barrier for pedestrian control and safety along the main bypass alignment.
The new Bypass follows the completion of Northern and Eastern Bypass while the construction of the Nairobi Southern Bypass is nearing completion.
It is also expected to enhance economic growth along the areas it will pass through.
