Work on elevated road from JKIA to Rironi set to start – CS

Jun. 18, 2016,

By PAUL ILADO IN BRUSSELS, BELGIUM

A view of Mombasa Road from JKIA and the new dual carriageway, which is complete at Lang’ata Road / HEZ

Construction of an elevated road from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to Rironi will start in three weeks. 

Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia said the government has received financial commitments from the African Development Bank and the World Bank. The contractor will be on site by next month. 

He was speaking to the Star in Brussels, Belgium, where he is accompanying President Uhuru Kenyatta for meetings with European Union leaders. Macharia said the government decided to fast track the project to reduce traffic congestion in the capital. 

“Some of the things we are doing now should have been done 20 years ago. We should not be where we are today,” he said. The first phase of the new elevated road will go from ABC Place to Rironi. Construction of the second phase from the JKIA to Ole Sereni will follow in January. The final phase from Ole Sereni to ABC will be done starting mid next year. 

TRANSIT LANES 

Rapid bus transit lanes will be included alongside interchanges at intersections on Popo-Kapiti, Lang’ata-Lusaka, Bunyala Road, Rhapta and James Gichuru roads. 

The final stretch from James Gichuru Road to Rironi will have additional lanes on both sides. Space will be left in the middle of the road for a bus rapid transit system. 

Macharia said the government has decided to alter part of the standard gauge railway plan to have the Chinese construct a new commuter rail network within the city. 

“What we have done is to vary the original contract to include the new commuter network in the city so we can decongest Nairobi. We had a meeting with the contractor, chaired by the President. We agreed that groundbreaking for this project will be done within three months,” he said.