The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has warned of a ten-day traffic disruption on a section of the Nairobi-Nakuru highway.
Through a notice on Wednesday, July 9, KeNHA revealed that the disruption would be experienced on the Nairobi - Nakuru - Mau Summit (A8) Road, and the Nairobi - Maai Mahiu - Naivasha (A8 South) Road.
Motorists were informed that the traffic disruption would begin on Thursday, July 10, and last till Sunday, July 20.
“The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) seeks to inform the public that a section of the Nairobi - Nakuru - Mau Summit (A8) Road and the Nairobi - Maai Mahiu - Naivasha (A8 South) Road may experience traffic disruption from Thursday, July 10, 2025 to Sunday, July 20, 2025,” KeNHA stated.
According to KeNHA, the disruption was to facilitate scheduled interview surveys and data collection.
“During the data survey, motorists may be stopped to share their journey details,” KeNHA added.
KeNHA revealed that the survey data to be collected would comprise Axle Load Surveys, Origin-Destination Surveys, Camera-Based Classified Cross-Sectional, and Turning Movement counts.
Axle Load Surveys measure the weight on each axle of vehicles, Origin-Destination Surveys track the start and end points of trips, Camera-Based Classified Cross-Sectional surveys count and classify vehicles passing a point, and Turning Movement counts to analyse the direction of traffic flow at intersections.
These surveys are crucial for understanding traffic patterns, pavement design, and planning road improvements.
Ahead of the planned surveys on the busy highway, KeNHA advised motorists and other road users to cooperate with traffic police and marshals on site, who will conduct traffic.
Traffic disruption of any kind on such a busy highway often brings chaos with a significant impact on transport and commercial activities. A clear example was seen on Tuesday, July 8, after hundreds of motorists were forced to spend the night on the road following a heavy traffic snarl-up along the highway.
Preliminary reports indicated that the gridlock, which began at around 7pm, was caused by an accident that involved two trailers near the Gilgil weighbridge.
The congestion, which spanned over 40 kilometres, escalated after some motorists began overlapping, consequently restricting the movement of vehicles in both directions.
In the footage obtained by Kenyans.co.ke, a fleet of vehicles, both privately owned and public service vehicles (PSVs), lined up along the highway. The situation worsened gradually as some passengers began alighting from the vehicles.
