Nairobi Expressway section from James Gichuru Road to close from Friday for maintenance works
The closure is expected to create temporary congestion, especially for motorists who usually use the overpass to stay on Waiyaki Way and bypass the roundabout.
Nairobi Expressway section from James Gichuru Road to close from Friday for maintenance works
A key stretch of the Nairobi Expressway will be closed for three days starting Friday, May 16, to allow for scheduled construction and maintenance work, the road’s management has announced.
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In a notice on Thursday, Moja Expressway said the affected section runs from the overpass at James Gichuru Roundabout to Njuguna’s Place on Waiyaki Way and will remain closed from 6:00 am on Friday to 8:00 pm on Monday, May 19.
“Motorists are informed that the Nairobi Expressway section from the overpass at James Gichuru Roundabout to Njuguna’s Place on Waiyaki Way will be temporarily closed from 6:00 am on Friday, May 16, to 8:00 pm on Monday, May 19, to facilitate road construction and maintenance works,” read the notice.
Moja Expressway clarified that traffic flow along the underpass and the Nairobi–Nakuru Highway will remain unaffected.
The company apologised for the disruption, urging motorists to bear with the inconvenience.
The closure is expected to create temporary congestion, especially for motorists who usually use the overpass to stay on Waiyaki Way and bypass the roundabout. With this option unavailable, drivers will be forced to use the same exit as those heading from Waiyaki Way onto James Gichuru Road, potentially leading to delays throughout the weekend.
Motorists travelling towards the Nairobi CBD using Waiyaki Way will also have to share the route with those intending to access the Red Hill Link Road, increasing the likelihood of traffic buildup on that stretch.
The partial shutdown comes just days after authorities announced a separate six-hour closure at Museum Hill, a key section linked to the Expressway. The Museum Hill Exit A is a vital entry point to the city centre, connecting motorists to Kijabe Street, the University of Nairobi and Waiyaki Way.
Since its opening, the Nairobi Expressway has played a critical role in easing traffic congestion in and out of the city.
The management says routine maintenance works such as this are part of the broader strategy to maintain safety and operational efficiency on the toll road.
Built as a flagship project under China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the double-decker expressway was envisioned as a game changer for Nairobi’s clogged transport system.
In 2024, the then Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen estimated that Nairobi was losing about Sh120 billion annually due to traffic-related delays, highlighting the need for such infrastructure.
Despite its benefits, challenges remain. Motorists have increasingly raised concerns about congestion at toll stations, particularly during the rainy season.
While the expressway supports both Manual Toll Collection (MTC) and Electronic Toll Collection (ETC), bottlenecks at MTC lanes, especially at busy exits like Haile Selassie Avenue, often slow down vehicle movement and spill into ETC lanes, causing further delays.
Stakeholders have called for a full shift to digital tolling systems to fully realise the road’s potential and reduce friction at payment points.
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