The Ksh.0.8 Billion 132kV Menengai - Solio Substation
The 132kV substation will evacuate power from 3 IPPs at the crater.
The substation includes the construction of a 132kV substation at Menengai, extension of the bay in the existing Soilo substation and transmission line infrastructure connecting the two. Future plans are to evacuate 400MW via 400kV lines at the substation
Power from the Menengai Substation will be transmitted to Solio Substation, 12.6km away.
The Menengai Substation is 80% complete and tower erection at 70% Completion.
KETRACO plans to increase the stations's capacity to 400kV to meet growing demands
The 220kV substation, located in Suswa is a Vision 2030 project that will be the meeting point of crucial transmission lines in Kenya. Among them include 3 lines from Ol Karia Geothermal Stations and Ethiopia HVDC Line.
Progress on outeringAnd just to remind how the linking of ORR to Thika Rd is intended to be accomplished (aligned to the Google Maps image above).
Here we go...
BTW, that foundation excavation to lay the aggregate is pretty deep (that is Thika Rd at the back):
Well, as should be expected due to our "jua kali" way of doing things, some bottlenecks along the way. But I am informed (by the ad hoc [one of his Kenyan colleague] translater of that Chinaman in the photo) the fiber cable service operators have already committed to sort out this mess over the coming weekend.
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Here, substantial work has been done on one side of the road (either Thika road bound or Juja road bound). I.e. the service road and two lanes of main carriageway. See the photos below for illustration:
Juja road bound lanes (service road and main carriageway).
In a few months, motorists will be able to drive on the new lanes from Thika road to Juja road junction. I.e both service lanes and main carriageway. This will allow for work to begin on the opposite service road and main carriageway lanes. In fact, in some sections, this has already started.
Below: The old road is being peeled off after traffic was diverted to the newly built lanes:
The overpass may take a bit of time but the bridge for the service road should be ready in a few months (they were bust working on it). See below (the lower bridge):
Substantial work has also been done on this section.
Below: Juja road junction. The main carriageway will be an underpass and will be behind the left wall. The space between these two walls will be filled to create the service road from Juja road junction towards Kangundo road.
Below: Beams being laid on the bridge at Nairobi river
......and now the elevated overpass taking shape!Below: The famous Kangundo road overpass
They are almost done laying beams on the service road. The service road is raised only at the railway crossing. The main carriage way is about 1km long. It is that long because it allows vehicles under is at three junctions (Kangundo rd, Mumias South and the road to Kariobangi South) as well as the railway crossing.