Construction works on the Nairobi Expressway project are at advance stages. James Macharia, cabinet secretary for the Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, confirmed the report after touring the project and said that the Chinese contractor is on track.
“We expect the elevated highway, which is progressing at 60 meters per day from both ends to be completed by early 2022. We are applauding the contractor, for not only for fast work, but also for working to ensure minimal traffic disruption. In places where the firm has partially blocked the road, there is good diversion to ensure traffic flows,” said Macharia.
Nairobi Expressway Project
The Nairobi Expressway Project is a 27-kilometer road project beginning from Mlolongo through the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and Nairobi’s CBD to Westland’s area along Waiyaki Way. The project involves a four-lane and six-lane dual carriageway within the existing median of Mombasa Road/Uhuru Highway/Waiyaki Way and 10 interchanges.
The project broke grounds in October last year with China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) as the contractor. The latter is responsible for the design, financing, and construction of the road under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework. The company will also operate the road for about 27 years so as to recoup its investment through the collection of road tolls.
The contractor has installed over 69 pillars and earthworks along the stretch. A section of the road from Mlolongo all the way to NextGen Mall, a distance of 18.2 kilometres and which is ongoing, will be a flatbed road, while the section from Nextgen Mall through the City-Centre to St Marks church, covering 8.2 kilometres, will be elevated.
PPP model
The road project is the first major project in the East African country to be carried out through a PPP model. It was initially to be completed December 2022 but has now been moved to December 2021 bringing the much-needed relief to traffic congestion in the Nairobi municipality.
The project has opened massive opportunities for local businesses as well as individuals, according to Kenya National Highways Authority, a state corporation. More than 1,800 local youths have been employed by the contractor.
