As construction of the Kes 60 billion Nairobi Expressway continues, commuters are unsure but hopeful that the 27.1 km road will eliminate or substantially reduce traffic snarl-ups that often characterize the larger segment of Mombasa Road in Nairobi.
Perennial traffic jam on both sides of Mombasa Road results in hundreds of lost man-hours every day. Some commuters sit in traffic for up to two hours over a stretch of 15 kilometres or less. It gets worse if accidents happen along the route.
The toll road, which begins at Mlolongo and ends on Waiyaki Way at the James Gichuru Road junction has been under construction for just a few months and is expected to be operational in 2022.The contractor is China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), a subsidiary of state-owned China Communications Construction Company. The contract is on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. The financier will operate the road for 30 years (of which three years is the construction period) in order to recoup investment.
The expressway involves a four-lane and six-lane dual carriageway within the existing median of Mombasa Road/Uhuru Highway/Waiyaki Way and 10 interchanges. It is expected to serve at least 25,000 vehicles per day and will be a particularly attractive option for those leaving or going to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Some Kenyans have expressed concern over the proposed toll charges even though no official rates have been announced. Toll roads are not new in Kenya. They were first introduced in the 1980s but were abolished in mid 1990s after the government created the Road Maintenance Levy paid by petrol and diesel consumers.
