Plan to demolish Nairobi roundabouts delayed
The Sh400 million plan to replace six roundabouts in Nairobi with intersections has been delayed following technical problems in the design.
Nairobi County government’s executive for transport, Mohammed Abdullahi, said the redesign required additional lanes, which was impossible because there is no land. Therefore, Mr Abdullahi said, new designs must be made.
But Mr Abdullahi said that this would not take long.
The roundabouts were to be demolished by the end of this week before schools reopen on Monday.
City Hall is implementing the plan with the Transport Ministry and had blocked two roundabouts to prevent motorists from making right turns.
REDUCED CONGESTION
The barricading of Westlands and the Old Nation House roundabouts is said to have reduced traffic congestion along Waiyaki Way, Chiromo Road, Kipande Road and Murang’a Road.
The Bunyala Road/Uhuru Highway roundabout and the Lusaka Road/Lang’ata Road roundabout were unblocked following serious traffic snarl-ups along Mombasa Road and Uhuru Highway. The opening of the Southern Bypass has improved traffic flow.
The removal of the roundabouts was expected to improve traffic flow in Nairobi by about 30-40 per cent.
On Thursday, Mr Abdullahi said officials would involve the public in the changes. “We shall draw a plan of removing the roundabouts and share it with the public,” he said.
The county had written to utility companies, including Kenya Power and the Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company, to relocate their service lines where the roundabouts are supposed to be demolished.