Nairobi Expressway Takes Shape [PHOTOS & VIDEO]

A section of the Nairobi Expressway along Mombasa Road
A section of the Nairobi Expressway along Mombasa Road
File

Construction of the Nairobi Expressway has continued to gather pace and already the superstructure is taking shape giving hope that the perennial traffic jam problem in Nairobi's Mombasa Road, Uhuru Highway and Waiyaki Way will be a thing of the past.

Today, workers can be seen working day and night towards bringing this mega project into a reality by 2022.

The construction commenced in July 2020 with the promise of decongesting Nairobi and transforming it into a modern city.

A section of the Nairobi Expressway along Mombasa Road
A section of the Nairobi Expressway along Mombasa Road
File

In less than a year, the construction is quickly unfolding from what was a concept to a towering piece of infrastructure that will soon be floating along with one of Kenya’s busiest road corridors.

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The elevated part of the Nairobi Expressway will give road users a unique view of the city, passing near key landmarks such as the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Nairobi SGR Terminus Nyayo National Stadium, Parliament Buildings Uhuru Park, University of Nairobi and the  National Museums of Kenya. 

To expedite its construction, the contractor introduced a technology that reduces the construction period of the elevated section by 50 percent.

Works along the elevated section are using the fabricated bridge technology. In this technology, the main components of the upper and lower structure of the bridge are prefabricated and assembled on-site in a factory or a yard.

Steel structures cemented into the foundation of the columns that will hold the elevated section have already been constructed. 

An aerial view of the on-going Nairobi Expressway project along Mombasa Road
An aerial view of the on-going Nairobi Expressway project along Mombasa Road
File

Below are 10 Facts About the Nairobi Expressway

1. The expressway is being constructed and funded by the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC).

2. The 27 km road costs approximately Ksh 62 billion.

3. Motorists will spend just 20 minutes driving across the city from Mlolongo to Rironi near Limuru, through Westlands.

4. It starts at Mlolongo, passes outside Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) through Nairobi Central Business District and joins Waiyaki Way in Westlands. 

5. It will have 10 interchanges at the SGR interchange, the JKIA interchange, Eastern Bypass, Capital Center, Haile Selassie, Thika road interchange, Westland's interchange and James Gichuru.

6. Motorists will pay a toll fee to use the road. Saloon cars (which have two axles, will pay up to Ksh 310 per trip, light vehicles with two axles and raised bonnet will pay Ksh 465. Heavy vehicles with less than four axles will pay Ksh 1,240 while those that have more than four axles will pay Ksh 1,798 inclusive of VAT.

7. Toll fees will be reliant on the state of the Kenyan shilling against the dollar. The charges can increase or fall based on how the shilling performs against the dollar.

8. Toll stations will be located between Mlolongo and James Gichuru Road junction.

9. The rate card is also expected to rely majorly on the distance travelled by vehicles and the weight of the automobiles. 

10. Motorcycles and Tuk-tuks will not be allowed to use the expressway. 

(Bonus Fact) The project is expected to be completed by December 2021 or June 2022.