Construction of multibillion Dongo Kundu by pass in Mombasa kicks off

MOMBASA, KENYA: The first phase of the ambitious Mombasa Port Area Development Project (MPARD) popularly known as the Dongo Kundu By pass which is projected to cost Sh11 billion has started.

This project will connect Mombasa's mainland to the Kenyan south by a bridge and bypass across Muache Creek west of Mombasa island.
The full cost of the whole project is 30 billion but the figure is likely to go up with a number of additional constructions and land compensation being added.
Package one forms the initial phase that will include six road interchanges with bridges and tunnel on the sea side outside the Moi International Airport which will serve as a sea rescue route for the airport facility .
Speaking in Mombasa yesterday when he led a high powered delegation of officials from the Kenya National Highways Authority (KenHA),Project consultants Uniconsult (Kenya ) Limited and project contractor China Civil Engineering Construction Cooperation (CCECC) , KenHa Board chairman, Eng Erastus Mwongera said that they are involved in further negotiations with Japanese International Aid Cooperation (JICA) who provided the initial funding of the entire MPARD project to fund the second and third packages.
'' We are in consultations with JICA for additional funding for the second and third and third packages for the MPARD project ,'' Eng Mwongera said.
He said that package one of the project entails construction works of a 10 .1 kilometres dual carriageway from Miritini junction to Kipevu which also comprise of an interchange at Miritini and at the entry of Kipevu , rail-over road bridge at Miritini, a weigh bridge along the Kipevu link road and an access road to the Moi International Airport that will be1.3 kilometre long.
Eng. Mwongera added that the entire MPARD project is expected to take 36 months to complete.