Construction of Kenya’s first double decker highway to begin in earnest

Construction of Kenya’s first double decker highway has received the much needed impetus after the World Bank agreed to finance the project. The highway is aimed at decongesting the city.

The road, Kenya’s first double decker highway, is expected to link Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and Nairobi-Nakuru highway. Construction is set to begin by the end of 2016.

According to Peter Mundinia the director-general at Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) the government of Kenya recently signed an agreement with the World Bank to finance the construction of the highway.

“We are now in a commitment to ensure that we see the project running as we have already signed a pack agreement with the World bank to give us Sh38 billion project and we expect to finalise discussions by December,” he added.

He said the idea came about after realizing that Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta was becoming more busy and there was need to ensure that ”we improve the infrastructure.”

He added that the elevated dual carriageway is to be built in three major phases as the first one will begin with the first 6.5 kilometres running from JKIA to Likoni Road and the Southern bypass interchange.

The second stretch (12 km) will connect Likoni Road to James Gichuru Road junction on Waiyaki Way in Westlands, while the last section will run from James Gichuru Road to Rironi, on Nairobi-Nakuru highway.

He added that the KeNHA had already announced for the tender and they expect China’s Wu Yi to carry it and they are in final tal to pave way for ground-breaking while designs for the first two sections are being finalized.

Motorists using the express road will pay a fee to escape the current heavy jams, especially on Mombasa Road.

“The express road will be subject to toll charges, estimated to stand at between Sh500 and Sh1,000 for convenience to those in a hurry,” said Transport secretary James Macharia. “It is a matter of choice and those who don’t want to pay will continue using the current roads,” he added.

Road infrastructure in Africa has in recent years received major investments from donors and governments in a bid to spur economic growth.