Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has warned of the closure of the main Mombasa highway to allow for the construction of Makupa Bridge valued at Ksh4.5 billion.
In a statement to the press on Wednesday, May 12, Charles Njogu, assistant director corporate communication at KeNHA, confirmed that a diversion would be created to offer alternative route.
He further noted that the team, which is currently engaging stakeholders, was yet to settle on a preferred diversion route.
He revealed that the agency was looking at utilising the land adjacent to the route as the most viable section to construct the diversion routes for the project.
"Although various options for traffic diversions have been tabled by different parties of interest, the most viable option has been identified to be a proposed diversion adjacent to the proposed construction site.
"KeNHA has therefore reached out to its partners to explore the possibility of utilising the adjacent land facilities, where it proposes in the interim to construct two additional lanes for use by motorists to ensure seamless flow of traffic into and out of Mombasa," read the statement in part.
He noted that the traffic on the bridge would continue uninterrupted as the agency seeks for a most viable route to put up the diversion.
“KeNHA further wishes to re-assure motorists that any information on any traffic diversion shall only be disbursed through the office of the Director General, information which shall be notified and circulated in public media in advance to avoid inconveniencing motorists and stakeholders,” continued the statement.
According to the authority, the new 457-metre-long Makupa bridge is intended to accommodate the old railway line as well as the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).
At the beginning of April, the authority was in talks with Kenya Railways on how to incorporate SGR in the infrastructure. The new infrastructure will replace the historic Makupa causeway that links Mombasa Island to the mainland.
The new bridge will have a width of 20 meters for each bridge, and an additional two-meter rail for non-motorized traffic and a pedestrian pathway.
The construction of the bridge which was commissioned by President Uhuru Kenyatta in December 2020, is expected to last one year.
