A section of the Nairobi-Mombasa highway that is set for upgrade. [Photo/ skyscrapercity.com]
Upgrading works for the Nairobi-Mombasa highway into a dual carriageway will kick off next year at a cost of Sh230 billion.
Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) director general Peter Munindia said talks were underway between the government and the American’s export-import (Exim) bank to finance the multi-billion project. The talks, he said, are expected to end soon.“We expect and hope that we are going to start construction of this road in the next one year once we complete the talks. This is a major road that requires upgrading to curb the frequent traffic snarl-ups,” he said on Tuesday.Munindia said works have already begun at a section of the highway notorious for traffic jams.The sections include Mombasa-Mariakani as well as the Athi River-Machakos turn off.The Athi River-Machakos turn off which is a 20 kilometres stretch will cost Sh5.3 billion. It will be constructed by China Railway 21st Bureau Group Company Limited.Besides turning the stretch into a dual carriageway, the section will also have two new bridges- one measuring 98 metres for traffic going to Mombasa and the other measuring 50 metres for vehicles racing to Nairobi.The upgrade of the turn off KeNHA says is expected to be complete by next year.Munindia said motorists plying the Nairobi-Mombasa road after completion of construction works will pay a levy at a toll station to recoup construction costs.The capital used in building the road according to a feasibility study, he said, will be recovered after 25 years.The Mombasa-Nairobi highway is a crucial asset as it links the port of Mombasa to the hinterland including landlocked countries of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan.The proposal for upgrading the road into a dual carriageway was first made when opposition leader Raila Odinga was Roads minister during President Mwai Kibaki’s 2002-2007 leadership.Budgetary constraints, however, thwarted construction works.