Moja Expressway Company Limited has announced the closure of the Nairobi Expressway starting Saturday, July 30.
According to a notice seen by Kenyans.co.ke, the 27-kilometre stretch running from Mlolongo to James Gichuru Road in Westlands will be closed from 9 PM on Saturday.
Moja Expressway, a subsidiary of China Road and Bridge Corporation(CRBC), noted that the closure will run till the road is officially commissioned.
"The commissioning will mark a monumental achievement which has given Nairobi a new face.
Moja Expressway Company Ltd regrets any inconvenience caused and motorists will be advised upon resumption of service on the Expressway," the notice read in part.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Moja Expressway General Manager of Corporate Affairs, Zhang Jin, noted that the company could not state when the highway will resume operations as it awaits commissioning by the President.
"The closure it to allow us to prepare for its commissioning as the trial period has expired," Zhang stated.
Zhang, however, told Kenyans.co.ke that the Ministry of Transport will announce service resumption after commissioning.
"We expect that the head of state will commission Nairobi Expressway by latest mid-day on Sunday to allow motorists to continue using the road. But the official announcement will come from the Ministry of Transport," Zhang explained.
Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia opened the road for trial on Saturday, May 14.
CS Macharia stated that at least 11,000 vehicles had registered to use the elevated road during the launch.
The CS further announced that old Mombasa Road would be rehabilitated at a cost of Ksh9 billion and will incorporate a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.
Since its launch, Nairobi Expressway has helped reduce traffic, especially on Mombasa road and Waiyaki Way. Despite a series of accidents, the Ksh88 billion road has been hailed for transforming the city transport system.
In the trial period, Nairobi Expressway even bagged the best Infrastructure of the year award. It was feted during the Afrika Mashariki Transport Awards on Friday, July 15.
