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KeNHA closes section of Mombasa Road for maintenance work

KURA advised motorists and pedestrians to exercise caution when approaching the construction zone. (Photo: File)

By Lucy Mumbi | Sunday, June 23, 2024

The Mombasa-bound lanes between Salama and Sultan Hamud, 11 km from Salama towards Mombasa and 10 km from Sultan Hamud towards Nairobi, will be closed for nine days.

The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has temporarily closed a section of Mombasa Road for maintenance work, starting midnight on Sunday, June 23, until Monday, July 1, 2024, at 6 am.

The Mombasa-bound lanes between Salama and Sultan Hamud, 11 km from Salama towards Mombasa and 10 km from Sultan Hamud towards Nairobi, will be closed for nine days.

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"One lane will be closed while the other will remain in operation," KeNHA Director General Kung'u Ndung'u said in an announcement on Sunday, noting that Nairobi-bound motorists would use the diversion while Mombasa-bound drivers would use the operational lane on the carriageway.

All motorists intending to use Mombasa Road (A8) Mombasa-bound lanes on this section were advised to approach the affected section with caution.

"Follow the traffic signs and guidance in place as shall be directed by police and traffic marshalls on site," Ndung'u said.

KeNHA has been undertaking road maintenance works, the last of which ran from June 15 to 23. It saw the closure of a section of Mombasa Road at Lake Oil (Konza) petrol station and affected Mombasa-bound traffic.

In the 2024–25 financial year, President William Ruto's government has allocated Sh193.4 billion to the road sector. Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung'u said Sh86.2 billion will go towards construction and Sh37.7 billion for maintenance.

Further, Sh69.5 billion has been set aside for road rehabilitation, while Sh2.4 billion will go towards the ongoing Dongo Kundu bypass project.

The development of Nairobi Railway City has been allocated Sh239.4 million while Sh200 million will go to the requisition of ferries for use on Lake Victoria.

The Nairobi BRT project will receive Sh1 billion and Sh316 billion will be used to promote e-mobility.

Further, Ndung'u said a total of Sh29.6 billion has been set aside for the expansion of railway transport, Sh12.1 billion and Sh3.1 billion for air and marine transport, respectively.

The funds, however, are lower than what was allocated for the sector in the 2023–2024 budget.

Last year, for instance, road construction, maintenance, and rehabilitation were allocated Sh244.9 billion, slightly higher than what has been allocated this year.