Plans to ease Nairobi traffic unveiled

You may no longer have to spend hours stuck in traffic jams, thanks to a decongestion plan by Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA).

The project, which is being financed by the World Bank through the National Urban Transport Improvement Project, will introduce bus rapid transit lanes, including the construction of an interchange at the Nyayo Stadium roundabout.

"The designs have been approved and are only awaiting ratification from the World Bank before we go to tender,"  KeNHA acting General Manager in charge of special projects David Muchilwa said Wednesday.

The construction is expected to start in December, with the objective of decongesting the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport–Westlands–Rironi Road. The interchange at Nyayo Stadium will allow easy flow of traffic coming from Mombasa Road, town centre and Lang'ata Road.

KeNHA is optimistic the decongestion will not only ease traffic jams but also bring down the cost of living and transport charges. A dual carriageway will be built starting from JKIA, Rironi along the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway. There will be a dedicated lane for bus rapid transit which will be a new mode of transport along the corridor.