i alway wanted to know why mombasa and other coastal towns haven't constructed bridges to replace those ferries? to me its sounds more logical to have a bridge, because those ferries dont look so safe, especially when its packed with a ton of people in it...:ohno:

what do you guys think? does the gov have any plans to build a bridge?????:|

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/4901661.jpg

VS

http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/0e/97/06/sydney-bridge-view-on.jpg

i alway wanted to know why mombasa and other coastal towns haven't constructed bridges to replace those ferries? to me its sounds more logical to have a bridge, because those ferries dont look so safe, especially when its packed with a ton of people in it...:ohno:

what do you guys think? does the gov have any plans to build a bridge?????:|

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/4901661.jpg

VS

http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/0e/97/06/sydney-bridge-view-on.jpg

I guess you had the Likoni ferry in mind when posting this. We would all want a bridge. Problem is the cost of constructing a suspension bridge over the channel.

Yeah! but I believe its lack of will.....

U c, we can afford an overpass connecting Nai and Thika..... Y not Likoni channel?

Yeah! but I believe its lack of will.....

U c, we can afford an overpass connecting Nai and Thika..... Y not Likoni channel?

Its not fair to compare the Thika road project to the need for a bridge. I seriously doubt that 70,000 vehicles or more cross the Likoni channel daily like those using Thika road. Just give it time. We have just started large infrastructure projects. The bridge will be built sooner or later.

With the East African Coastal road masterplan in pipeline from Lamu-Mombasa-Tanga-Bagamoyo-Dar es Salaam, I think its a matter of time it will be built.

With the East African Coastal road masterplan in pipeline from Lamu-Mombasa-Tanga-Bagamoyo-Dar es Salaam, I think its a matter of time it will be built.

U R right.

I think my gud bro KENGUY will agree that the reason 70,000 vehicles r not crossing the channel iz due 2 lack of the same bridge... once its put-up, u will b amazed how it will open up SOUTHCOAST.....

Lets put our effort pushing our leaders 2 make our dreamz come true.....

The problem in the terrain especially at likoni. the bridge would have to be high enough to allow ships going into kilindini harbour and low enough to avoid a large clearance area on either end. I think something like the a curved bridge with the peak protruding off the current ferry line would be suitable. have to wait and see.

How about digging dip and below, that would eliminate issues of having to go high and i can almost feel the real estate boom that would bring to the tunnel itself. (assuming in the tunnel they build kiosks and malls and shopping centers. Im thinkin if they started digging from around the agha khan area they would get below the channel without having to go too steep.

are there any other locations that use ferries other than Likoni channel?

nope! unless they bring down kilifi bridge :-) or begin to use them to access Lamu island from mukowe.

How about digging dip and below, that would eliminate issues of having to go high and i can almost feel the real estate boom that would bring to the tunnel itself. (assuming in the tunnel they build kiosks and malls and shopping centers. Im thinkin if they started digging from around the agha khan area they would get below the channel without having to go too steep.

Tunnel may be cool, but again, not simple. The channel is only 500 metres wide and I don't know of any tunnels in the world that allow foot traffic. Most of the guys using the bridge are pedestrians. A drawbridge would work best but that's a few years away for Kenya.

It would be great to have a brigde especially because any cost benefit analysis would make sence. I have to say that even with the corruption conserns, this government has been bold but they can even be bolder by continuing to build infrustructure not only in Nairobi but in Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret and all the other regions of the country. We have to be competitive globally, regionally and even within the country.

It would be great to have a brigde especially because any cost benefit analysis would make sence. I have to say that even with the corruption conserns, this government has been bold but they can even be bolder by continuing to build infrustructure not only in Nairobi but in Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret and all the other regions of the country. We have to be competitive globally, regionally and even within the country.

perfectly stated, africanman

It would be great to have a brigde especially because any cost benefit analysis would make sence. I have to say that even with the corruption conserns, this government has been bold but they can even be bolder by continuing to build infrustructure not only in Nairobi but in Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret and all the other regions of the country. We have to be competitive globally, regionally and even within the country.

http://cdn.radionetherlands.nl/data/files/imagecache/must_carry/images/lead/pontjesbrug.jpg
Maybe this would be a better solution. A floating bridge which opens horizontal when ships have to pass.
Cost efficient, ship friendly and convenient for pedestrians and cars.

http://cdn.radionetherlands.nl/data/files/imagecache/must_carry/images/lead/pontjesbrug.jpg
Maybe this would be a better solution. A floating bridge which opens horizontal when ships have to pass.
Cost efficient, ship friendly and convenient for pedestrians and cars.

^^a 500 metre long bridge of that type would be a tall order for now. Welcome to skyscrapercity Mtwapafan.:cheers:

Yeah! but I believe its lack of will.....

U c, we can afford an overpass connecting Nai and Thika..... Y not Likoni channel?
^^
from what has been in the news in recent past, the plan was to build a linking road from the mainland, with a bridge at Dongo Kudu all the way to south coast. No plans to build a bridge at Likoni channel as of now.

Planning for a bridge would inevitably affect the population closest to the cross...and that would really create some friction. But like others say its simply a matter of time. I just hope the eventual design will venture to be a little creative....maybe try and create another visual tourist attraction for the city.

Planning for a bridge would inevitably affect the population closest to the cross...and that would really create some friction. But like others say its simply a matter of time. I just hope the eventual design will venture to be a little creative....maybe try and create another visual tourist attraction for the city.

Yeah, like having massive tusk like pillars supporting the suspension bridge. That would definitely compliment Mombasa's famous tusks. :cheers:

^^^^ a tourist attraction would definitely be a bonus....

Mombasa is one of Kenya's most important places and I find it difficult to understand why the government has not paid attention to it, that goes for Kisumu, Nakuru and to some extent Eldoret.
I can not understand why Mombasa does not have another bridge, why Kisumu is not a major tourist center with hotels and other tourism related infrustructure. I think that the Raila/ Kibaki partnership has done a comendable job, for the most part, but I think that a new generation of leaders has to come up, people of principle and ideas, I am not very hopefull but one can dream.

lets get rid of the old farts and let our youth take over the govt! :banana:

as we discussed, it was a matter of time. guess what! our hopes has been realized!!!!

plans in top gear for key road at the Coast


Over 200,000 passengers and 3,500 vehicles cross the Likoni channel daily.

By GITHUA KIHARA gkihara@ke.nationmedia.comPosted Thursday, January 13 2011 at 15:28

Mombasa residents’ decades-old dream of a bypass to alleviate perennial congestion at the Likoni ferry crossing has moved a step towards becoming a reality.


The government has given its nod for the development of a final detailed design for the road project.

Mouchel Consultants of London have been given the go-ahead to design the project in one year.

Once built, the Dogo Kundu bypass will link the South Coast with the island without having to use the Likoni ferry, infamous for its massive congestion.

Mouchel Consultants were asked in June last year to develop project designs.

“The consultant is now working on the detailed designs and has one year to complete the task,” said Mr Davis Odeck, the Coast Province regional manager of the Kenya National Highway Authority who are overseeing the project.

The bypass will start at Miritini and have two arms, one leading to the new container terminal at Port Reitz and the other passing through Dongo Kundu to link up with the Likoni-Ukunda road in South Coast.

Previous thinking had two routes. The first was a 10km road from Miritini to the port, with one bridge at Mwache creek and a second one at Bombo creek, which would join the Likoni mainland near the Kenya Navy Base.

The second route would start from Miritini, circumvent Port Reitz creek through Mwache Forest to Tsunza, Mtongwe and then connect to the Likoni-Lunga Lunga road at Shika Adabu, about 10 kilometres from the Likoni crossing.

The South Coast business has been severely disrupted by malfunctioning ferries, even with the arrival of two new vessels last year, because the quayside is too narrow and can only handle one ferry at a time.

via nation.com

here is another one.............

Provincial Key Coast bypass gets green light



By MAZERA NDURYA mndurya@ke.nationmedia.comPosted Sunday, September 12 2010 at 22:00

In Summary

* 18-km road will connect Mombasa with South Coast to ease congestion on the Likoni channel

Construction of the Dongo Kundu bypass that will connect Mombasa and the South Coast to ease pressure on the Likoni channel has been approved.

Roads ministry Permanent Secretary Michael Kamau on Sunday said that bids for the construction of the multi-billion shilling bypass would be invited anytime now after Transport minister Amos Kimunya gave the clearance.

Speaking at the Serena Hotel in Mombasa at a conference for chairpersons of State-owned enterprises, the PS said the much-awaited project had been delayed by differences among government agencies over the route the 18km road would take.

The road is also expected to create special economic zones in Changamwe and the South Coast.

Mr Kamau said relying on ferry transport on the Likoni channel to connect Mombasa island and the South Coast mainland was no longer feasible.

“Even if we used 10 ferries at the channel, the problem will not go away because no more than two ferries can dock at the same time.
“Increased economic activity and population growth demand an uninterrupted flow of traffic and goods and this can only be made possible by the Dongo Kundu bypass,” he said.

Marine experts and other players have for a long time said a bypass at Dongo Kundu and the Likoni-Ukunda road near Ngombeni would provide a lasting solution to the erratic ferry services.

Captain John Odhach, a marine expert, said increasing the number of ferries in the Likoni channel would not solve the problem because their operations were regulated by marine laws.

“When the ferry service was introduced, Kenya had a population of approximately nine million. Now there are close to 40 million people, but the channel has not been expanded,” he said.

Capt Odhach said maritime regulations stipulated that only three ferries can operate in the channel at any one time due to turbulence caused by the vessels’ propellers.

“Even if the ramps were to be expanded, three ferries cannot dock at the same time for fear of accidents,” said Capt Odhach.

im guessing with this design the ferry stays, i cant imagine living across and having to go around 40KM.

They need to do something here!The tourists crossing over to the South Coast sometimes have problems getting to the mainland and the North Coast for various activities.I think they should build a road connecting the South Coast with the Airport so a bypass is very good idea.There are airlines operating between Mombasa and Diani for this reason.

im guessing with this design the ferry stays, i cant imagine living across and having to go around 40KM.

40km?Which route is that?