New elevated highway to be built in Kenya

Date: 7/6/2012

A new highway is being built in Kenya and designs for the project have now been completed.

The elevated route will run above the existing Mombasa Road-Uhuru Highway and Waiyaki Way and work is expected to begin on the project in January 2012. The aim of the initiative is to reduce congestion in the area and ease the amount of traffic in the country's cities, the Nairobi Star reports.

Designs were drawn up by Otieno Odongo Engineering Consultants and the project - which has received finance from the World Bank - will cost $200 million (£129 million).

Roundabouts between Nyayo Stadium and Westlands have been removed, as the designers claim these cause the most congestion. The stadium roundabout will be replaced with what was described as a single point diamond interchange.

Manager in charge of the Nairobi Urban Transport Improvement Project Denis Odeck said: "In order to address the near traffic crisis we are experiencing in the urban centres, especially during the peak hours of morning and evening, we are engaging other stakeholders to come up with long-term solutions."

Overall, the total road improvements being carried out as part of the project will cover 12km, beginning at the Likoni Road junction at Ole Sereni Hotel to James Gichuru junction off Waiyaki Way. Ramps and overpasses will also be introduced at certain points to link different routes and minimise the amount of land required for the improvements.

Meshack Kidenda, Director-General of the Kenya National Highways Authority, said the detailed designs proposed for the project will ensure no existing properties along the 12km stretch will be demolished.

"No property owner should be worried," he stated.

These changes come following the completion of construction work on the Nairobi-Thika highway in Kenya. Worth Sh27billion (£199 million), it was built by three Chinese engineering firms, but the Kenya National Highways Authority is due to take over the route this month.

Completion of the project was delayed by the unscheduled relocation of utility lines, water and electricity away from the 42km road.

Posted by Nick Anderson