Sinister
JF-Expert Member
- Feb 18, 2013
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The planned expansion of Eastern and Northern Bypass roads in Nairobi is moving closer to becoming a reality, with the government inviting Kenyans to submit their views on the project.
In a notice this week, the National Environment Management Authority gave citizens up to June 24 to comment on the project that is expected to cost taxpayers up to Sh40 billion.
“Nema has received an environmental impact assessment study report on the proposed dualling that will see the two roads with two lanes each increased to four lanes,” the agency said.
The 52km-project, which is under by the Kenya Urban Roads Authority, starts at City Cabanas through Ruai towards Ruiru passing over Thika Road to Ruaka where it joins the Northern Bypass.
The project is aimed to ease traffic jam that has become a perennial headache on the two roads.
Dualling of Northern and Eastern Bypass appeared imminent in September 2017 when Transport secretary James Macharia said his ministry was preparing MOUs that would be shared with shortlisted contractors “in two or three months’ time” to help unlock financing for the project.
“Dualling should have been done from day one. They should not have done that road without dualling it,” Mr Macharia said. “We want to accelerate the dualling and have it done as soon as we arrange financing and that’s why we’re processing these memoranda of understanding.”
The documents, he said, will provide the roadmap for the design and costing of the multi-billion-shilling project that has a two-year construction timeline. Not much has happened since.
The Nairobi Eastern Bypass dualling project was among 11 major infrastructure projects that Kenya showcased to international investors during the Belt and Road forum that was held in Beijing, China, in May 2017.
The bypass was designed and built by the Kibaki-government as part of Kenya’s Vision 2030 infrastructure projects.
Its costs, together with that of the Northern Bypass, overshot the initial Sh8.5 billion budget due to land acquisition costs.
In January 2018, Sinohydro Limited of China signed a commercial agreement with Kenya to undertake the dualling of the Nairobi Northern Bypass, setting the stage for a new round of fundraising for the 31-kilometre road project.
“We are looking forward to getting funds from prospective financiers. We hope the project together with the Eastern Bypass construction will cost between Sh30 billion and Sh40 billion. This should be sorted out in the next three months,” Mr Macharia said.
The Northern Bypass, which is already motorable, is one the government’s key projects aimed at transforming Nairobi into a regional business hub.
The road starts from Ruaka on Limuru Road, overpasses Banana Road through Runda and Thome estates. The bypass then proceeds to Kahawa West and eventually to Ruiru, through Kamae, where it joins the Eastern Bypass.
China Road and Bridge Corporation undertook phase one of the project
In a notice this week, the National Environment Management Authority gave citizens up to June 24 to comment on the project that is expected to cost taxpayers up to Sh40 billion.
“Nema has received an environmental impact assessment study report on the proposed dualling that will see the two roads with two lanes each increased to four lanes,” the agency said.
The 52km-project, which is under by the Kenya Urban Roads Authority, starts at City Cabanas through Ruai towards Ruiru passing over Thika Road to Ruaka where it joins the Northern Bypass.
The project is aimed to ease traffic jam that has become a perennial headache on the two roads.
Dualling of Northern and Eastern Bypass appeared imminent in September 2017 when Transport secretary James Macharia said his ministry was preparing MOUs that would be shared with shortlisted contractors “in two or three months’ time” to help unlock financing for the project.
“Dualling should have been done from day one. They should not have done that road without dualling it,” Mr Macharia said. “We want to accelerate the dualling and have it done as soon as we arrange financing and that’s why we’re processing these memoranda of understanding.”
The documents, he said, will provide the roadmap for the design and costing of the multi-billion-shilling project that has a two-year construction timeline. Not much has happened since.
The Nairobi Eastern Bypass dualling project was among 11 major infrastructure projects that Kenya showcased to international investors during the Belt and Road forum that was held in Beijing, China, in May 2017.
The bypass was designed and built by the Kibaki-government as part of Kenya’s Vision 2030 infrastructure projects.
Its costs, together with that of the Northern Bypass, overshot the initial Sh8.5 billion budget due to land acquisition costs.
In January 2018, Sinohydro Limited of China signed a commercial agreement with Kenya to undertake the dualling of the Nairobi Northern Bypass, setting the stage for a new round of fundraising for the 31-kilometre road project.
“We are looking forward to getting funds from prospective financiers. We hope the project together with the Eastern Bypass construction will cost between Sh30 billion and Sh40 billion. This should be sorted out in the next three months,” Mr Macharia said.
The Northern Bypass, which is already motorable, is one the government’s key projects aimed at transforming Nairobi into a regional business hub.
The road starts from Ruaka on Limuru Road, overpasses Banana Road through Runda and Thome estates. The bypass then proceeds to Kahawa West and eventually to Ruiru, through Kamae, where it joins the Eastern Bypass.
China Road and Bridge Corporation undertook phase one of the project
