The upgrading of the Mombasa-Nairobi highway into a dual carriageway is set to kick off next year.
The upgrading of the highway has been estimated to cost Sh. 230 billion.
According to Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) director-general Peter Mundinia, talks with the America’s export-import (Exim) bank to finalize financing are nearing completion.
“We expect and hope that we are going to start construction of this road in the next one year once we complete the talks. This is a major road that requires upgrading to curb the frequent traffic snarl-ups,” he said.
The Athi River-Machakos turn-off, which is a stretch of 20 kilometres will cost Sh5.3 billion and is being constructed by China Railway 21st Bureau Group Company Limited.
The 20-kilometre section will be dual carriage and will have two new bridges one measuring 98 metres for Mombasa bound traffic and another of 50 metres for traffic headed to Nairobi.
The Mombasa bound will be the longest bridge along the Northern Corridor.
Mr Mundinia said motorists would pay for the expanded Nairobi–Mombasa road via a toll charge to recoup the construction costs.
He said feasibility study had indicated that the capital used in investment will be recovered in 25 years.