KURA Issues Directive to Motorists Using Eastern Bypass

The revamped Nairobi Eastern Bypass which includes five new major vehicular crossings and six-lane dual carriageways
The revamped Nairobi Eastern Bypass which includes five new major vehicular crossings and six-lane dual carriageways
Courtesy

The Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) has warned motorists using the Eastern Bypass to be more careful while plying the road which is currently under construction.

In the statement dated Tuesday, August 23, KURA noted that drivers using the Eastern Bypass have not been complying with the traffic laws.

According to KURA, motorists have been driving on the wrong side of the road and this has led to a surge in the number of accidents on the busy road that connects Mombasa Road to the Thika Superhighway.

Motorists pictured on the Eastern bypass road.
Motorists pictured on the Eastern bypass road.
File

"Our attention has been drawn to motorists using the Eastern Bypass. Please note that the road is still under construction and we urge motorists to obey the traffic rules and desist from driving on the wrong side. 

"We have provided U-turns and road signages to guide motorists as they drive along the entire road corridor. The majority of accidents that have happened along the bypass are due to motorists who are driving on the wrong side instead of using the provided U-turns," the KURA statement read in part.

To curb these accidents, KURA has deployed traffic marshalls to deal with drivers caught breaking traffic rules.

"Please note that our enforcement team is on the ground to deal with anyone who violates the traffic rules.

"Once complete the road will have street lights, Road marking, and footbridges. We urge your cooperation as we endeavour to provide Enhanced Urban Mobility," the statement continued.

The government has been undertaking expansion works on the Eastern Bypass in a bid to ease traffic. KURA had noted that once complete, motorists would take less than 40 minutes to drive from Thika Road via Utawala to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

The dualling of the Eastern Bypass began in November 2021 and the project was expected to take 12 months.

The Eastern Bypass is one of the Vision 2030 infrastructure projects that was designed during the term of the Grand Coalition government.

Its expansion was part of the 11 infrastructure projects that the government showcased to global investors during the two-day Belt and Road Forum for International Co-operation in Beijing, China, in May 2017.

Nairobi Eastern Bypass was revamped to includes five new major vehicular crossings and six-lane dual carriageways
Nairobi Eastern Bypass was revamped to include five new major vehicular crossings and six-lane dual carriageways
Photo
KeNHA
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