The second longest railway tunnel in Africa was on Monday completed after months of construction.
The SGR Ngong tunnel became the longest railway tunnel in East Africa and second in Africa.
It stretches for 7.41km which is second to the Hex River Tunnels in South Africa which stands at 13.6km.
The route runs from the Em-Bulbul SGR tunnel in Kajiado County and joins the Ngong one to complete part of the second phase of the SGR project.
The project takes the railway line from Nairobi to Naivasha and onward to Narok.
According to the Kenya Railways management, laying of tracks is the next step after completing the tunnel.
The Ngong tunnel has been designed as a single-track railway path with a clearance height of 7.6 metres and a width of 6.4 metres constructed using the three-bench seven-step excavation method.
Benching refers to the creation of a series of steps in the vertical wall of an excavation to reduce the height and ensure stability during construction.
Rocks are blasted to create the tunnel’s arch shape.
The tunnel project which is funded by the Exim Bank of China cost Ksh 150 million.
Construction of the Naivasha line started in January with the production of parts like T-beams and sleepers.
The Naivasha line is expected to be completed in the year 2019.
