The Nairobi Expressway is a 27 kilometres (17 mi) toll road in Kenya, connecting Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to Nairobi's Westlands area, that has been constructed under a public-private partnership between the government of Kenya and China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC).[1]
| Nairobi Expressway | |
|---|---|
| Route information | |
| Length | 17 mi (27 km) |
| History | Designated in 2019 Completion in 2022 |
| Major junctions | |
| South end | Jomo Kenyatta International Airport |
| Likoni Road Junction James Gichuru Road Junction | |
| North end | Rironi |
| Location | |
| Country | Kenya |
| Highway system | |
Location
editThe 27.1-kilometer road starts from Mlolongo passing through JKIA and Nairobi’s CBD to the James Gichuru junction along Waiyaki Way. From Mlolongo, the road links up via an interchange with Airport South Road, to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, along the Nairobi-Mombasa Road. The highway continues along the existing roadway to the Likoni Road Junction, a distance of approximately 10 kilometres (6 mi).[2]
From the Likoni Road junction, the toll highway continues northwards to the James Gichuru Road junction, a distance of approximately 13.5 kilometres (8 mi).[3]
Overview
editThe Nairobi Expressway is aimed at easing traffic and providing seamless access to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and its environs.[4] The work involves the expansion of the existing road to four lanes one-way (eight lanes total) with footpaths, drainage channels, overpass bridges, and street lighting.[5]
Motorists can calculate their toll fees for trips along the expressway, from Westlands to Mlolongo and vice versa, using the Nairobi Expressway Toll Calculator. This tool helps users determine the toll costs whether paying with cash (M-Pesa), MTC, or ETC, and even estimate total commuting expenses per week or month.
Construction and funding
editThe government of Kenya has contracted with China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) to build this toll road on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis. CRBC will use its own money to construct the road expansion, interchanges, and toll stations. The company will collect the toll fees until their investment is recovered, then the road will revert to government.[6]
The road expansion is to be done in stages. The World Bank had indicated interest in funding the road expansion, but those plans have been overtaken by events.[7] The cost of the toll highway is quoted as between KSh51 billion (US$510 million) and KSh65 billion (US$650 million).[5]
Recent events
editIn April 2022, 98.4 Capital FM reported that the construction of the expressway was complete and was awaiting political and commercial commissioning. The road project, which cost over US$560 million to build, is expected to reduce travel time from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to the Nairobi central business district to between 15 and 20 minutes, instead of the one hour it took during off-peak and two hours it took during peak hours, before the expressway was built.[8]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Africanews (16 May 2022). "Relief for motorists as kenya opens Nairobi expressway". Africa News. Nairobi. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
- ^ "Distance between Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi, Kenya and PolyPlay Kenya Limited, Nairobi, Kenya" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
- ^ "Travel Distance Between Odds & Ends Limited, Embakasi South, Vision Plaza, Mombasa Road, Nairobi, Kenya And Java Head Office, ABC Place, Waiyaki Way, Nairobi, Kenya" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
- ^ Miriam Wangui (24 April 2019). "Cabinet approves expressway project linking JKIA to Westlands". Nairobi: The Kenyan Wall Street. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
- ^ a b Geoffrey Mosoku (24 April 2019). "Kenya to sign deal for Sh51 billion JKIA-Westlands expressway". The Standard (Kenya). Nairobi. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
- ^ Angeline Mbogo (5 September 2018). "Chinese Private Investors Commit to Support JKIA-Westlands Expressway". Nairobi: The Kenyan Wall Street. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
- ^ Kenfrey Kiberenge (20 August 2015). "Construction of JKIA–Westlands Superhighway to commence this December". Nairobi: Nairobi News. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
- ^ Grace Njeri (19 April 2022). "Exclusive: Nairobi Expressway in Pictures; The Do's, Don'ts & How to Access it". 98.4 Capital FM. Nairobi, Kenya. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
External links
edit- Webpage of the Kenya National Highway Authority
- Nairobi Expressway Troubles Not Over Yet As of 13 October 2020.