The Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) on Saturday, February 22, announced the road closure of Quarry Road-Mlolongo/Syokimau area for two months in a move that is feared to paralyze traffic in the area.
Through a statement, KURA announced the closure would begin at 6:00am Monday, February 24, and last till 6:00pm Friday, April 25, to pave the way for rehabilitation and improvement works. At the same time, KURA provided alternative routes for motorists and light and heavy truckers who frequently use the road.
“We wish to notify the general public that sections of Quarry Road-Mlolongo/Syokimau area will be closed from 6 AM Monday, February 24, until 6pm Friday, April 25 (two months),” KURA informed.
“This is due to rehabilitation and improvement works along Quarry Road. We urge motorists to use alternative routes and follow guidance by traffic police and marshals,” KURA added.
For light truckers coming from Katani Center, motorists were diverted to the Syokimau Airport Road, upon which they would later take a left turn that would lead them to the Nairobi-Mombasa highway.
Heavy truckers from Katani Center were directed to use the road leading towards Ebenezer Mall and Tuffoam Industries to descend on the Nairobi-Mombasa highway.
The renovations come after numerous complaints from area residents over the dilapidated state of the road, especially in the aftermath of heavy floods witnessed last year.
The road, which falls under the national government’s mandate, connects Mombasa Road to Kangundo Road and was tarmacked a little over five years ago and is situated in Machakos County.
Motorists plying the road lamented over the massive potholes and cracks on the road that led to some vehicles developing costly mechanical problems with some stalling on the road. The poor state of the road also led to drainage issues particularly when the floods wreaked havoc.
Dozens of trucks and heavy machinery ferrying construction material from quarries in Mlolongo Phase 3, Katani, Ngelani, and other areas had worsened the situation.
The move comes months after the government, through the National Assembly, would embark on conducting renovations on the road.
National Assembly Transport and Infrastructure Committee Chairperson George Kariuki (Ndia), while appearing before the Parliament in July 2024, stated that construction work on the road would begin immediately.
“According to the Ministry of Roads, there are immediate plans to prioritize repairs to the damaged sections of the Mlolongo-Quarry-Katani Road,” Kariuki assured the House at the time.
