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CONSTRUCTION: Tax payers will fork out a Sh2.9 billion for the construction of two overpasses and a series of road interchanges linking Ngong Road to the Central Business Districtt (CBD).

Kenya Urban Road Authority (Kura) resident engineer Benjamin Asin said the project which starts early next year and expected to be completed in 2023 will be fully funded by the National Treasury. 

A process of identifying and relocating service providers is currently going on.

“The value of the project is Sh2.9 billion. The works should begin sometimes next year. At the moment, we are doing preparatory works that involve relocation of works planning and geo-technical investigations,” said Asin.

Works on the project, will be undertaken by the China Road and Bridge Corporation-Kenya, with Kura the overseers.

It will involve construction of Valley Road/Kenyatta Avenue; Ngong/Nyerere Road intercange and Upper Hill/Haille Selassie overpass and associated road networks.

“The elevated carriage ways are two, one from integrity centre to Serena and another on the Milimani Close,” said Asin. In order to minimise traffic disruption, Asin said they have purposed to construct slip roads first, where trafffic will be directed before embarking on the elevated carriage ways.

The elevated carriageways have been designed in such a manner they will approach the Sh62 billion Mombasa-Nairobi Expressway at lower levels and into the CBD through Haile Selassie and Kenyatta Avenues.

“There will be no connection because that one is for traffic that are going express so we do not want to mix, so as traffic approaches the Expressway, it will go down and into the city,” said Asin.

Closed lanes

Provision have been made to cater for closed lanes, cycle tracks and side lanes, including two Bus Rapid Transport corridors along Haille Selassie and Kenyatta Avenues.

In will come as a relief to asset owners, because no buildings will be pulled down, except for strips of land owned by All Saints Cathedral, the Milimani Commercial Court and along Nyerere Road.

“Instead, we are optimising the existing corridors, so no major buildings are going to be affected, but just strips of land including All Saints Cathedral, where a 3 metre strip will be utilised,” said Anim, adding that there was no provision for compensation in the contract.