Key road the target in bid to ease jams
Nairobi residents are gearing up for yet another mega project to address the traffic jams.
Last week, the African Development Bank (AfDB) donated US$120 million (Sh10.2 billion) for construction of the road linking Thika Super-highway to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
“Good news for friends and residents of Nairobi. The bank today approved $120 million for the Outering highway. Will ease traffic congestion,” tweeted Donald Kaberuka, President of the African Development Bank.
Apart from AfDB, other donors include the Japanese government, the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (Kura), Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) and the Nairobi county government.
Transfer stations
The project, expected to begin in January 2014 and take three years, will cover the upgrade of Outering Road from the current single to a dual carriageway with dedicated bus lanes, a seven-metre wide service road on each side, flyovers and underpasses at major intersections as well as footpaths and cycle-lanes on both sides.
Currently, it takes more than two hours to cover the 13-kilomere road from the General Service Unit (GSU) headquarters to the Taj Mall in Embakasi, thanks to the never-ending jam.
But upon completion of the project, this will be reduced to just about fifteen minutes.
There will be ten pedestrian footbridges and four passenger transfer stations, complete with landscaping and street lighting to enhance security of motorists and pedestrians alike on a road which has become notorious for carjackings and muggings.
Access roads to estates like Umoja, Tena and Kayole will be via a six-lane underpass.