The Kenya Urban Roads Authority (Kura) has issued an update over its plan to construct a second bridge that will be an alternative of Nyali bridge in Mombasa.
The 38-year-old Nyali bridge was built by the Japanese to connect the Mombasa Island and the Northern mainland.
However, Kura is rolling out an ambitious plan to construct another Nyali bridge in a bid to decongest the Coastal city.
The Authority has shortlisted three companies that will see one of them picked so as to partner with it under a public-private partnership deal and kick-start construction of the bridge running through the Indian Ocean.
According to Kura communication officer John Cheboi, it is the qualified firm that the government will get into a deal with.
"We want to start negotiations and see who can offer the best deal from the three,” he said, adding that motorists will pay to use the bridge.
The three firms include: Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corporation for Transport and Urban Development, Nyali Connect Consortium and Strabag AG.
The proposed bridge will start from Abdel Nasser Road on the Island. It will join Links Road on the Northern mainland and will be 500 metres to the east away from the current Nyali bridge.
Cheboi said they would communicate when the construction of the bridge would start and its cost.
On November 14, 2017, Kura in a statement signed by Cheboi said five firms had applied for pre-qualification to bid for the planned second Nyali Bridge in Mombasa.
The project will involve construction, operation and maintenance of a six-lane dual carriage bridge (three-lanes on either side) on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) basis and is under the mandate of Kenya Urban Roads Authority which is the contracting authority.
The Transaction Advisory for the project is a consortium led by Deloitte (East Africa & India).
Other member firms are Iseme Kamau & Maema Advocates, Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, H.P. Gauff Ingenieure and Earthcare Services.
"The project is planned as a toll bridge, meaning motorists will pay to use the bridge which is expected to greatly enhance transport efficiency between the Island City of Mombasa and the Northern mainland through Nyali region."
Feasibility studies revealed this route has the highest vehicular traffic and therefore most critical in unlocking perennial traffic gridlocks in and around Mombasa City.
The request for qualification attracted firms from across the globe including:
Consortium of IHI, JOIN (Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corporation for Transport & Urban Development) and Acciona China Communication Construction Company (CCCC), Strabag, Consortium of Vinci Highways and Meridiam Consortium of Mota Engil Africa, AIIM, Egis and Orascom.
The second Nyali Bridge Project is among major road projects earmarked for delivery through the PPP model in the country.
"This means a private sector player who wins the competitive tender process will raise financing, do the designs, undertake the construction and maintenance of the facility and thereafter, get compensation from end user charges collected by the government on their behalf."
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