Motorists plying the busy Mombasa Road were on the morning of Monday, October 18, subjected to massive traffic jam which lasted for several hours.
The traffic affected the stretch between General Motors and the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) after a footbridge was recently demolished to pave way for the construction of the Nairobi Expressway.
In a statement, the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) explained that the traffic was caused by a crane that had broken down.
The crane was being used to demolish the footbridge.
"KeNHA wishes to advise motorists of a traffic snarl-up from GM area which has caused congestion of traffic flow for traffic plying towards Imara Daima and its environs."
"A temporary breakdown of a crane that was earlier at the site caused traffic build-up. Work is, however, underway by the project implementation team to clear the site and resume normal traffic flow," read the statement in part.
The authority accompanied their advisory with an apology note to the users who were rushing into the Central Business District (CBD) at the time.
Some of the motorists and commuters blamed the authority for commencing the construction during rush hour hence inconveniencing many motorists.
"You are really taking the Mombasa Road users for granted, why can't you do the deconstruction of the GM bridge at a convenient time? Monday morning... surely?" Questioned Isaac Odi.
"Your planning though? There's a holiday in a day's time you couldn't bring crane-heavy jobs than when there's thin traffic? Or at night curfew? Mechanical breakdowns will always happen. Still plan better, please," Lamented Muema.
Mombasa Road has since time immemorial been a hotbed of traffic jam at different stages even before the construction of the Ksh65 billion Nairobi Expressway kicked off.
On Wednesday, October 13, There was a heavy traffic snarl up in Kiboko along Mombasa Road after a tree blocked the highway.
Motorists were left stranded for hours leading some to alight and try to remove the tree from the road.
The hiccup posed an additional pain to the motorists who are already grappling monumental traffic jam that continues to be experienced along the busy Mombasa Road due to the Expressway construction.
