Road agency sets August date to complete city ring roads

By Vitalis Kimutai

Nairobi, Kenya: Construction of Nairobi-Western ring roads funded through a Sh1.9 billion grant from Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) will be completed in the next two months.

The construction, being implemented through a flagship project under the Enablers and Macro Sector of the Kenya Vision 2030, will be completed on August 15.

The missing link roads identified and prioritised through Nairobi Urban Transport Master Plan connects Waiyaki Way at Westlands roundabout, Lantana Road and Riverside drive to Ngong Road through Mandera Road (Kileleshwa police station).

It also joins Gitanga Road at Valley Arcade and James Gichuru Road, Yaya Centre and Ngong Road. Part of it includes a 2.85km stretch connecting Mandera Road to Ole Odume Road/Mazeras Junction.

“Completion of the project would result in shorter travel times for motoritsts, decongestion of surrounding roads, improved security, safey and convenience of pedestrians and cyclists due to construction of footpaths and bicycle lanes,” said Engineer Silas Kinoti, who is in charge of environment and planning at Kenya Urban Roads Authority.

Drainage facilities

The roads will form major alternative routes bypassing Nairobi’s Central Business District and as such would ease nightmares by motorists encounter while navigating through the city.

Morita Shuichi, a consultant engineer said the scope of the project is — two way two lane roads, segregated cycle tracks and pedestrian walkways, street lighting and traffic signals, landscaping and planting of tree and four portal culverts and storm water drainage facilities.

A report by Kura indicates that 84.67 per cent of the works has been undertaken by the contractor, Nippo Corporation of Japan. A study by Kura and Jica between 2004 and 2006 discovered 16 missing link roads, four of which are complete and 10 under construction.

Traffic congestion is one of the problems that Nairobi city is faced with and it is expected that Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero will work with various government departments and development partners to provide a solution.

Hideo Eguchi, the Chief Representative of Jica in Kenya will continue to play a role in Kenya’s development agenda so as to uplift the standards of living for the people and enable business to flourish.