Construction work of the Nairobi Express highway connecting JKIA to Rironi has started in earnest.
The road is being constructed by China Road and bridge Corporation, the same contractor who executed the Nairobi Southern by pass, and will be overseen by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) through a public-private partnership model.
The road is being laid on the road reserve between the highway to the airport and Mombasa Road.
This means there will be limited interference as the works progress as is normally the case during such works.
Last week, the Institute of Kenya Engineers (IEK) endorsed the project during their annual dinner.
The Nairobi express way was launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta in October 2019.
While launching the project last month, Uhuru said the project is intended to ease traffic along Mombasa Road to save commuters time.
Kenha director general Peter Mundinia on Thursday last week said despite the challenges already highlighted, the expressway will be an important economic resource for the country as it targets to benefit all.
“The expressway is meant for everybody, because the moment you reduce the congestion by lifting out some of the vehicles, then you allow the remaining ones to move efficiently,” he said.
According to Mundinia, upon completion the multibillion-shilling project will drastically reduce the cost of public transport to Nairobi residents.
“We expect that after this is done, even the fares for the rest of the public transport will come down because what matters most is how many trips matatus can make,” he said.
He added, “If the road is efficient, the matatus will make more trips.”
The 18.6 kilometre Nairobi expressway stretches from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport all through to James Gichuru road, along Waiyaki Way in Westlands.
It will consist of a four-lane ground level highway from Mlolongo to the Eastern Bypass interchange(10km), a six-lane ground level highway from the Eastern Bypass interchange to the Southern Bypass interchange(5km) and a four-lane elevated highway from the Southern Bypass near Capital Centre through the City Centre along Uhuru Highway up to James Gichuru Junction (11.2).
While launching the project last month, Uhuru said the project is intended to ease traffic along Mombasa Road to save commuters time.
The express way will also have 10 exit and entry roads and 10 toll plazas.
