Dongo Kundu bypass which boarders Mombasa, Kwale and Kilifi counties is Kenya’s most expensive road. The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has revealed.
The road costed Kenyan taxpayers a whooping Sh2.7 billion per kilometre, with Phase II of the (9 kilometre section between Mwache and Mteza) bypass being built at a total cost of Sh24 billion.
In a document by KeNHA seen by Daily Nation, the authority said building roads in Mombasa costs much more than similar work in other parts of the country.
Contractors claim that it is so because of the challenging terrain that often requires heavy reinforcement.
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"Road construction costs when stated on per kilometre basis vary widely due to various factors. Certain alignments require the construction of drainage structures such as bridges and box culverts that carry a significant cost," said KeNHA.
The document details costs of major roads in the country.
Phase I of the multi-billion Dongo Kundu bypass covers between Miritini and Mwache and was officially opened by President Uhuru Kenyatta accompanied by Mombasa and Kwale county governors Ali Hassan Joho and Salim Mvurya respectively at Bonje near Mazeras.
The 11 kilometre stretch costed the taxpayer a whooping Sh1.15 billion per kilometre.
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KeNHA attributed this to "difficult terrain and security features, including a canopy on a one-kilometre stretch along the Moi Airport boundary."
Phase III of the road covers a 7 kilometres stretch between Mteza and Kibundani and links the highway to the Likoni - Lunga Lunga Road. It is priced at Sh571.4 million per kilometre.
The government is constructing the 27 kilometre dual carriageway bypass under the Mombasa Port Area Road Development Project (MPARD) with an aim of curbing traffic congestion around the Port of Mombasa.
This year alone, the National Treasury allocated Sh116 billion for road construction, countrywide.
Other expensive Mombasa road project include dualling of the Mombasa - Kwa Jomvu section which is jointly financed by the Government of Kenya and the African Development Bank (AfDB) at a cost of Sh6.1 billion.
The section which is 40 percent complete is part of the 11.3 kilometre Mombasa - Mariakani Highway (A8) launched by President Kenyatta in December 2017.
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Dualling of the 2.6 kilometre Magongo - Changamwe Road at Sh930.9 million per kilometre is as well one of the expensive road projects in Mombasa.