The construction of a historical double-decker highway linking the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport with the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway is set to start later this year.
This follows the signing of a Sh. 38 billion financing agreement with the World Bank.
“We now have a new commitment from the World Bank for the Sh38 billion project and we expect to finalise discussions by December,” said Peter Mundinia, the director-general at Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) — the agency in charge of highways.
The elevated dual carriageway is to be built in three phases beginning with the first 6.5 kilometres running from JKIA to Likoni Road and the Southern bypass interchange.
The second stretch (12 km) will connect Likoni Road to James Gichuru Road junction on Waiyaki Way in Westlands, while the last section will run from James Gichuru Road to Rironi, on Nairobi-Nakuru highway.
KeNHA yesterday said the tender for the Westlands-Rironi stretch had been awarded to China Wu Yi, paving the way for ground-breaking while designs for the first two sections are being finalised.
Motorists using the express road will pay a fee to escape the current heavy jams, especially on Mombasa Road.
“The express road will be subject to toll charges, estimated to stand at between Sh500 and Sh1,000 for convenience to those in a hurry,” said Transport secretary James Macharia.
