KeNHA to close section of Mombasa Road for three weeks

The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has announced a three-week temporary closure of a section of Mombasa Road which will be undergoing construction.

In a notice, the authority said traffic will be disrupted on a section of Mombasa Road near Panari Hotel from Tuesday, October 29, 2024, to Friday, November 22, 2024.

According to KeNHA, the construction is necessary for the realignment of the road and the establishment of a mid-span footbridge foundation at the median between the Mombasa-bound lanes and the adjacent Nairobi Expressway fence.

"This is to allow for realignment of the road and construction of a mid-span footbridge foundation," the authority stated in its notice.

During this period, motorists are advised to use alternative routes.

A proposed traffic management plan shows construction will primarily occur on the outermost lanes of Mombasa Road, impacting both Nairobi and Mombasa-bound sections.

Specifically, work on the Nairobi-bound lane will be done near the Simba Corporation building and Aldrich Property Consultants, while the Mombasa-bound section will see activity near Ramis Centre and Panari Hotel.

KeNHA has urged drivers to reduce their speed to 40 kilometres per hour in the construction zone, where they will encounter narrower lanes.

The authority also emphasised the importance of following the proposed traffic management plan and cooperating with police and traffic marshals stationed on site.

This announcement follows a recent agreement between Kenya and the United States for a $3.6 billion (Sh477 billion) project to construct the Nairobi-Mombasa expressway, known as the Usahihi Expressway.

This ambitious 473-kilometre road project, a public-private partnership, aims to alleviate congestion between the two major cities.

It has been designated the largest toll road project in Africa and is expected to significantly enhance travel efficiency.

KeNHA, established under the Kenya Roads Act of 2007, oversees the development, rehabilitation, management, and maintenance of national trunk roads.

With its headquarters in Nairobi, the authority has multiple regional offices and is dedicated to delivering quality infrastructure through innovation and resource optimization.

Current projects also include the Nairobi Western Bypass, funded by the government of Kenya and the China Exim Bank, which is progressing well with a physical completion rate of 55.4 per cent.

This bypass will connect various key areas, further improving the region's transport network.

Motorists are encouraged to plan their journeys accordingly and remain patient during this essential upgrade period.