ON Tuesday the Cabinet approved the introduction of urban road tolls for the three bypasses that are about to be built in Nairobi as well as a raised highway that will run from Nyayo Stadium to Westlands roundabout.
This positive development should be applauded by all road users. The Gilgil road toll was abandoned some years ago in favour of a general road levy but that was a monopoly. The Gilgil toll could not be avoided by anyone travelling to western Kenya and Central Africa.
The Nairobi bypass road tolls will be optional. Road users will have the choice between paying to travel on the rapid bypass or. using the old congested roads. It will therefore create more choice in the Kenyan economy.
The tolls do not need to delay traffic either So long as they are automated and can accept coins, traffic will flow swiftly through the toll stations, as it does in France, USA and other countries charging road users.
If the Nairobi experiment is a success, as it surely will be, it will open up the possibility of public-private premierships where useful new roads can be built by the private sector who will then recover their investment from tolls on the road users.


http://multimedia.marsgroupkenya.org/?StoryID=261180
In Video

Construction of a series of roads in Kenya's capital Nairobi to ease congestion will also see the introduction of toll charges following Cabinet approval. The government will approach an investor to build, operate and charge motorists who use an elevated road from Nyayo Stadium to Museum Hill roundabout as well as the Southern Bypass.
Heavy loads

A statement after Tuesday's Cabinet meeting said ministers approved the Nairobi Urban Toll Road Concession and the decision will be sent to Parliament as stipulated by the Public Road Tolls Act. The concession will cover the stretch from the Machakos turn-off to the interchange at Athi River to Westlands and up to Rironi, meaning motorists from Mombasa and those from towns beyond Rironi will pay for using the road.

Users of the entire stretch are mostly long-haul transporters, whose heavy loads damage roads most. The money is earmarked for road maintenance, though the main aim of the bypass project is to decongest Nairobi roads. The Nairobi Urban Toll programme includes the Southern Bypass from St James Hospital in Mombasa Road to Kikuyu.

The government is yet to secure funding for the bypass that starts at the former American embassy and runs through the Nairobi National Park before crossing Lang'ata Road above Uhuru Gardens. It then runs above Kibera, through Ngong Forest to Dagoretti and Thogoto and currently terminates behind Alliance High School as the land is yet to be fully acquired. The bypass will occupy 40 hectares of Nairobi National Park to allow clearance for the Wilson Airport runway.

Work on the Northern and Eastern bypasses is also underway. Cabinet also approved the Kenya Pipeline Company capacity enhancement project to improve movement of oil from Mombasa to Nairobi and Western terminals in Nakuru, Eldoret, Kisumu and neighbouring countries.

Wow, awesome news. Kenya seems very serious about getting her infrastructure back in order. ;)

Wow, awesome news. Kenya seems very serious about getting her infrastructure back in order. ;)

Only wish it had started 10-20 years ago.

Only wish it had started 10-20 years ago.

We were still in the dark ages of dictator Moi those days my friend...Many Kenyan roads were said to have been tarmacked..on paper..and contractors paid..but nothing had been done...But let us see how it goes.

I got hold of a map showing the locations of the toll plazas to be built sometime this year. (for highways A109 to A104/ Mombasa road-Nakuru road). The big circle shows the proposed Uhuru highway overpass (No.4). Road number 7 is the southern by-pass.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2771/4248358757_eb24680d47_b.jpg

Yawah, so how does this work? i carry a stack of coins on my way to visit magokoro in gusiiland? and how many do i pay for along the way?

i just hope they use the money gained from the toll properly like maintaining the roads and highways...
DOWN WITH CORRUPTION!!!!!!!!! :bash:

World Bank gives conditions for city road project

Business Daily,
Thursday
February 3, 2011.

The World Bank has issued a conditional offer to finance the construction of a multi-billion shilling pay-for-use road to ease traffic jams around Nairobi.

Country representative Johannes Zutt, said the institution would only finance the project once the selected contractor-Strabag International complied with its social and environmental safeguards including land acquisition and legal provisions in Kenya.

“If the government of Kenya so desires, the World Bank Group would be prepared to finance a concession undertaken by Strabag, on the condition that Strabag agrees to expand its integrity compliance procedures and training programmes to cover the company more completely,” he said in a statement on Wednesday without expounding.

The project dubbed Nairobi Toll Road (NTR) would entail paving of the 77-kilometre road between the Athi River Junction on Mombasa Road and Kikuyu on Naivasha Highway.

Though the project was to be started two years ago the ground breaking is yet to come to fruition after the World Bank raised several objections over Strabag’s involvement.

That prompted an evaluation of among other things Strabag’s ownership amid World Bank concerns that some business the Russian businessman had interests in one of the consortium members.

On Wednesday, Mr Zutt said the due diligence exercise had revealed some “irregularities” that Strabag would be required before the World Bank could unlock finances for the Sh67billion project.

“The World Bank found that the systems and approach to compliance procedures would not be commensurate with the circumstances of this project and the governance risks facing this sector. Accordingly, the World Bank Group is not prepared to participate in financing the consortium involved in this project as currently structured,” he said.

Analysts said the stand by the World Bank is expected to add pressure on the government that is currently under immense pressure to complete the project.

Roads minister Franklin Bett last month said the government would bring on board new partners if the tussle between the financiers and the contractors was not resolved quickly.

“The partners would have to get things rolling or we have another partner on board,” said Mr Bett.

The minister’s position, however, posed a dilemma in that either way the government risked suffering the wrath of financiers or paying hefty penalties to the company.

Though indirectly, Mr Zutt seemed to prod the government to drop Strabag from the deal even though some sources at the Roads ministry said the State could still opt to scout for a new financier for the project.

aodhiambo@ke.nationmedia.com

According to the latest report,this project has collapsed until further notice.

http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Sh37bn%20road%20project%20faces%20cash%20hitch%20/-/1056/1101230/-/s7ylo2z/-/index.html

though this report is more optimistic

http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Corporate%20News/Strabag%20in%20talks%20to%20salvage%20Sh67bn%20city%20road%20project/-/539550/1101174/-/atk5toz/-/index.html

According to the latest report,this project has collapsed until further notice.

http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Sh37bn%20road%20project%20faces%20cash%20hitch%20/-/1056/1101230/-/s7ylo2z/-/index.html

though this report is more optimistic

http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Corporate%20News/Strabag%20in%20talks%20to%20salvage%20Sh67bn%20city%20road%20project/-/539550/1101174/-/atk5toz/-/index.html

This is the reason we have to build large banks that can finance our projects.

As for this one, its only a matter of time for it to be revived. The question is how long it will take for the Mombasa road-Uhuru Highway-Waiyaki way stretch to become gridlocked for the government to feel the heat and do something.

I guess this project isn't dead yet. Roads minister has stated they are looking for alternative financiers for this project. As usual, China may be the most likely candidate or maybe Kenyans themselves. They might have to drop the toll idea though. :cheers:

I guess this project isn't dead yet. Roads minister has stated they are looking for alternative financiers for this project. As usual, China may be the most likely candidate or maybe Kenyans themselves. They might have to drop the toll idea though. :cheers:

I think officially the project is dead though i heard they want to restructure it.

Contractors have been invited to tender bids for the design of an overpass road in Nairobi after construction firm Strabag International’s contract was terminated.

Strabag’s Sh67 billion pay-for-use road, meant to ease traffic jams around Nairobi, was cancelled after the World Bank said it would only finance the project once the Austrian construction giant complied with social and environmental safeguards.

The Kenya National Highways Authority (Kenha) is searching for engineers to design the road as it prepares to award tenders for the construction work.

This sets the stage for a scramble for the project with Chinese and Japanese contractors being front runners.

“The selected firm must have demonstrable international experience in design of multi-carriageway urban motorways,” the authority said Wednesday, setting a September 17 deadline for submission of bids.

The planned overpass will run from Nairobi’s Likoni Road and Southern bypass junction and proceed along Mombasa Road, Uhuru Highway, Chiromo Road, and Waiyaki Way before joining James Gichuru Road to the west of the capital. The overpass is critical to unlocking benefits of the 12-lane Thika Highway that is expected to be completed and commissioned early next year.

Roads minister Franklin Bett said the planned road would have at least four inter-changes at strategic points such as Museum Hill round-about on Uhuru Highway, Westlands, and the area around City Cabanas restaurant on Mombasa Road.

“We intend to have a longer over-pass than earlier planned so that traffic that isn’t meant for the city centre is handed exclusive passage… we are looking at an extra seven to 15 kilometres of overpass road,” Mr Bett told the Business Daily.

He said the toll road concept would be dropped in the new design owing to lack of land for construction of ticketing booths.

“Unless a private investor comes up with a convincing proposal complete with sufficient land for the erection of ticket booths, the toll concept remains out of question,” he said.

“Currently, there is no land left along the planned construction corridor and the idea of a toll concept would not be viable.”
The fate of the overpass project has remained in limbo since early this year after the government pulled out of a public-private partnership that would have seen the road built on a toll concept.

Strabag had been eyeing a deal to implement the project but parted ways with the government even before signing a job contract.

Environmental safeguards

The fallout followed a condition by the World Bank that it would only finance the project once Strabag complied with its social and environmental safeguards, including land acquisition and Kenyan legal provisions.

According to the shelved blueprint the project, dubbed Nairobi Toll Road, would have entailed paving a 77-kilometre overpass between the Athi River Junction on Mombasa Road and Kikuyu on the Naivasha Highway on a concession arrangement.

Mr Bett said though Strabag missed an opportunity to build the toll road, it was welcome to bid for the new job.


http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Corporate+News/Consultants+invited+to+bid+for+design+of+new+overpass+in+city/-/539550/1220718/-/item/1/-/72tpboz/-/index.html

Seems they are reviving the project:banana::banana:

El Brilliante!!!!! (if that phrase exists in spanish).

Great news but there seems to be some vagueness in the article published.

1. Are they using Overpass to mean an elevated highway?I know its going to be an overpass from Likoni Road Crossing over Mombasa road.But from henceforth all the way to Waiyaka way,it is an elevated highway,not an overpass anymore.Though technically since it will be "overpassing" several roads and roundabouts and junctions to avoid traffic,maybe thats what they mean.

2.They talk of an interchange at City Cabanas.Likoni road is nowhere near City Cabanas.Likoni Road meets mombasa road near the Bharti Celtel headquarters.Therefore if there is going to be an interchange,its going to be at this juncture.

And why would they invite Strabag to tender for this project again and set the stage for another possible denial of funding from IMF?They should totally ignore strabag and stick to chinese or japanese constructors.Personally i'm hoping the Chinese are awarded.And the project could be done in 2 or 3 years.

So far no details on the KENHA website,but eagerly awaiting the tender document once the designs are complete.

And why would they invite Strabag to tender for this project again and set the stage for another possible denial of funding from IMF?They should totally ignore strabag and stick to chinese or japanese constructors.Personally i'm hoping the Chinese are awarded.And the project could be done in 2 or 3 years.

So far no details on the KENHA website,but eagerly awaiting the tender document once the designs are complete.

Strabag is one of the most reputable companies you can get. In choosing contractors should we all play to the whims of world bank?Remember if they were the financers of thika road China wuyi would never touch their money and yet we can attest to the quality of work that China wuyi have. In my opinion they should not even be considered in financing coz they may yet derail it again.

I knew this project wouldn't be dead for long. :banana:

Brace yourselves for spaghetti junctions especially at the Museum hill and city Cabanas where the highway passes over the new Museum hill interchange and the planned Eastern By-pass interchange on Mombasa road.

Imagine cruising on this thing on a sunny Sunday afternoon. :cheers:

Strabag is one of the most reputable companies you can get. In choosing contractors should we all play to the whims of world bank?Remember if they were the financers of thika road China wuyi would never touch their money and yet we can attest to the quality of work that China wuyi have. In my opinion they should not even be considered in financing coz they may yet derail it again.

The article does not indicate who will be financing this project,but its more than likely that its the world bank/IMF.getting new financiers on board is not an easy job and this will delay the project.IMF already committed to financing this project before.We have no choice but to play to the "whims" of the IMF if this project is to kick off soon.

It states that the World Bank's reservations is the reason Strabag's contract was cancelled, meaning the World Bank would be financing it - or at least it's going to the major financier.

The article does not indicate who will be financing this project,but its more than likely that its the world bank/IMF.getting new financiers on board is not an easy job and this will delay the project.IMF already committed to financing this project before.We have no choice but to play to the "whims" of the IMF if this project is to kick off soon.

The language can be confusing to those who live in the US. To us, an overpass is limited in scope, while an elevated highway would be what the article seems to be envisioning. At first glance I was wondering why an 'overpass' would be this costly only to realize that they were talking of an elevated highway. This is what should have been considered in the first place instead of the fiasco of trying to forcibly (through emminent domain) evict well established businesses along the affected route.

El Brilliante!!!!! (if that phrase exists in spanish).

Great news but there seems to be some vagueness in the article published.

1. Are they using Overpass to mean an elevated highway?I know its going to be an overpass from Likoni Road Crossing over Mombasa road.But from henceforth all the way to Waiyaka way,it is an elevated highway,not an overpass anymore.Though technically since it will be "overpassing" several roads and roundabouts and junctions to avoid traffic,maybe thats what they mean.

2.They talk of an interchange at City Cabanas.Likoni road is nowhere near City Cabanas.Likoni Road meets mombasa road near the Bharti Celtel headquarters.Therefore if there is going to be an interchange,its going to be at this juncture.

And why would they invite Strabag to tender for this project again and set the stage for another possible denial of funding from IMF?They should totally ignore strabag and stick to chinese or japanese constructors.Personally i'm hoping the Chinese are awarded.And the project could be done in 2 or 3 years.

So far no details on the KENHA website,but eagerly awaiting the tender document once the designs are complete.

^^Oh God accept our prayer this time :)

Am one who believes an elevated highway will not remove the gridlock that is uhuru highway. If we build it and leave uhuru highway as it is we will just be replicating the southern bypass. What uhuru highway needs is removal of roundabouts and replace them with efficient interchanges. Remember after lanes were added to mombasa road little changed.

Am one who believes an elevated highway will not remove the gridlock that is uhuru highway. If we build it and leave uhuru highway as it is we will just be replicating the southern bypass. What uhuru highway needs is removal of roundabouts and replace them with efficient interchanges. Remember after lanes were added to mombasa road little changed.

The aim of the elevated highway is to separate traffic heading to Westlands and Mombasa road from that heading to the city centre. That alone will drastically reduce the gridlock on Uhuru highway. Plus, its going to be difficult leaving the roundabouts as they currently are. They will need that space for support pillars and maybe extra lanes. The sad part is that we will have to say goodbye to all the palm trees lining that highway.

So this bypass should be an expressway?

So this bypass should be an expressway?

Yes. An elevated expressway.

An elevated highway is possible without eliminating the existing Uhuru highway. What is Uhuru highway can serve as a frontage/access road. And elevated expressway that keeps the existing section would make a marked difference in unlocking some of the gridlock. And certainly modifications to UH. are needed to eliminate those roundabouts. Below are pictures of what we have in Austin, Texas. The upper deck (elevated) was built above the existing lower deck.

http://www.aaroads.com/texas/ih035/i-035_s_exit_236b_02.jpg
The outer lanes on the picture above will lead you to the upper deck which is probably two miles-plus long.

http://www.aaroads.com/texas/ih035/i-035_s_exit_236a_01a.jpg

http://www.aaroads.com/texas/ih035/i-035_s_exit_236b_01.jpg

http://www.aaroads.com/texas/ih035/i-035_s_exit_235b_02.jpg

http://www.aaroads.com/texas/ih035/i-035_s_exit_235a_02.jpg


Am one who believes an elevated highway will not remove the gridlock that is uhuru highway. If we build it and leave uhuru highway as it is we will just be replicating the southern bypass. What uhuru highway needs is removal of roundabouts and replace them with efficient interchanges. Remember after lanes were added to mombasa road little changed.

The sad part is that we will have to say goodbye to all the palm trees lining that highway.

it would cost some money but if they wanted to they could just re-plant those palm trees somewhere else... (don't know if they have that program in kenya [tree conservation] )

it would cost some money but if they wanted to they could just re-plant those palm trees somewhere else... (don't know if they have that program in kenya [tree conservation] )

Yeah,for a country with 2% tree cover i'd say its not too much money.Nrb needs to increase its acreage esp with the rapid urbanisation and whole neighborhoods with not a tree in sight.

Some machinery like this could do.

http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/5234/dutchman.png (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/846/dutchman.png/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

I wouldn't want to wake up from a nap in a field with that thing towering above me.:lol:

I wouldn't want to wake up from a nap in a field with that thing towering above me.:lol:

:lol::lol::lol:

Quite an unrelated post here but it at least confirms that the project will still be financed by the world bank and the timelines.
Road network to tie Kenya with neighbour states
Posted by VICTORIA RUBADIRI on September 2, 2011
NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 2 – Almost two months into the new fiscal year, the Ministry of Roads has big plans to strengthen ties with Kenya’s regional neighbours.

With a Sh100.9 billion fund allocation, the Ministry of Roads received about 10 percent of this fiscal year’s budget, which the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Michael Kamau said is geared towards regional connectivity.

Speaking to Capital Business, the PS said the theme to further integrate the region through infrastructure has been an ongoing theme for the Ministry since 2008 stemming from the Northern Corridor Transport Improvement Project.

“We must connect ourselves to our neighbors because they are the source of our business. Our road to Ethiopia 136 kilometers just opened the other day. Just see the impact it is having on Isiolo and Marsabit in terms of the potential growth,” he said.

With the East African road network accounting for 80 percent of the regional cargo, improving the Northern Corridor that runs from Mombasa to the Great Lakes is crucial in boosting trade and investment within the region.

Mr Kamau mentioned the improvement of the road from Athi River to Namanga and on to Arusha that accounts for Sh38 billion worth of trade between Kenya and Tanzania.

At about 90 percent complete, the Athi River-Namanga road stretching 132 km was contracted at the sum of Sh6.2 billion.

Already complete, the 100 km Emali-Loitoktok road was upgraded at a cost of Sh4.2 billion, which included an extension of 12km from Loitoktok to Kibauni at the Kenya-Tanzania border.

As the busiest road in the Northern Corridor, accounting for the highest volume of transit goods to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo, the 60 km Eldoret-Webuye-Malaba road is still undergoing upgrades at a cost of Sh7.05 billion.

Over the last one year, Kenya exports to the East African Community partner States have grown by a surplus of Sh10 billion from a value of Sh79.7 billion to Sh90 billion, a major incentive to further develop infrastructure in the region.

The flow of goods from Kenya’s coastline has proven to be an issue, with the Port of Mombasa expected to surpass its full cargo holding capacity of 20 million tones, this year.

About 96 percent of cargo from the Mombasa port is transported by road, heavily overloading the Mombasa-Nairobi-Western economic corridor.

A major project that has been in the works for some time for the Roads Ministry in conjunction with the Ministry of Transportation is developing the Lamu Corridor.

Known as the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport Corridor or LAPSSET the project will serve as the entry point of goods for Ethiopia and South Sudan.

Now undergoing a detailed design and economic feasibility assessment, LAPSSET will open up towns in the Northern parts of Kenya that experts believe will contribute 85 percent of the country’s GDP and double the economy in the next 10 years.

The LAPSSET project will cost an estimated Sh1.8 trillion by 2020 and feature three resort cities, a capacity refinery of 120,000 barrels per day and international airport to be built in Lamu.

So far, three berths have been confirmed as the first part of construction for the Lamu Port, set to begin in the next three months.

To better streamline the transport system along the LAPSSET Corridor, a narrow band of about 200 km has been planned to accommodate the railway, pipeline, road and ICT cables.

“The total road will be about 10,700 km. Because this road is coming from Mombasa to join the road to Isiolo, we’ve started developing a connection to Ethiopia. What we need to develop is the connection from Isiolo going across to South Sudan,” said Mr Kamau.

Other South Sudan linkages include the Eldoret-Kitale-Nandapal road which is currently under design with studies being carried out over the next 18 months.

However, Mr Kamau said regional development does not mean the ministry is not minding internal roads.

Decongestion of Nairobi has been key for the Ministry, which involves completion of the Eastern and Northern bypasses and beginning construction on the Southern bypass.

The recent commencement of the Nairobi Western Ring Roads as well as the revival of the flyover plan, Mr Kamau said will tremendously ease the city center’s flow of traffic.

“As for the concession of the flyover which collapsed; we are back at it again. The World Bank has granted us money for the preparation of that project. We are working on it and we expect to go to the World Bank Board maybe in March next year to get the funds. So the preparation is now on full blast,” he said.

The plan is expected to have the flyover begin at Parkside Towers on Mombasa Road to James Gichuru Road, spanning approximately 11 kilometers.

So financing will start in March next year?Which will take a couple of months.This project is going to take quite q while to kick off.Earliest next year September,if the tendering process will be complete.

The redesigned road as envisaged entails;
2.2. Specific objectives
In particular, the study will include (but not be limited to) the features listed below:
2.2.1. Grade separation of road intersections
Attainment of grade separation at major road intersections including:
*(i) Mombasa Road/Popo Road/Kapiti Road junction
(ii) Mombasa Road/Langata Road/Lusaka Road junction
(iii) Mombasa Road/Bunyala Road junction
(iv) Uhuru Highway/Haile Sellassie Avenue junction
(v) Uhuru Highway/Kenyatta Avenue junction
(vi) Uhuru Highway/University Way junction
(vii) Chiromo Road/Riverside Drive junction
(viii) Waiyaki Way/Rhapta Road/Lower Kabete Road junction
(ix) Waiyaki Way/James Gichuru Road junction
2.2.2. Addition of lanes to existing carriageway
Addition of lanes, where feasible, including at the following locations
(i) Mombasa Road/Uhuru Highway/Chiromo Road/Waiyaki Way between Likoni road and James Gichuru Road. The installation of additional lanes may entail reconfiguration of existing lanes and construction of lowered or elevated roadways.
2.2.3. Roadways in cuttings and elevated roadways
Lowered or elevated roadways should be considered wherever right-of-way constraints or engineering justifications are applicable. Potential locations include:
(i) Mombasa Road/Uhuru Highway/Chiromo Road/Waiyaki Way between Nyayo Stadium and Westlands
2.2.4. Service roads
Service roads, wherever feasible and necessary for safety and improved traffic flow, may be considered.
*where is that?

The redesigned road as envisaged entails;
.
*where is that?

I guess this popo is near St James adjacent to Ole Sereni hotel where the southern bypass touches Mombasa road.Kapiti road is at Bellevue.

I guess this popo is near St James adjacent to Ole Sereni hotel where the southern bypass touches Mombasa road.Kapiti road is at Bellevue.

Man the southern bypass under construction is making that place damn dusty!

Is there really any need to have an elevated road this long when transit traffic along the same route is also supposed to be catered for by the southern bypass?
I think what we need on this route is grid separated junctions and no more, otherwise the funds allocate here can go a long way in alleviating travel headaches in more deserving cases like dualling of Ngong road or outering road.
Nairobi Star (Nairobi)

Kenya: State Comes Up With New Plan for Toll Road
James Mbugua
25 October 2011

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Kenya is set to construct one of the longest flyovers in Africa stretching from Ole Sereni Hotel to ABC place on Waiyaki Way. The is part of the the new plan the government has for the abandoned Nairobi Urban Toll Road project which will now be built as a publicly funded road.

Speaking to The Star yesterday, Roads permanent secretary Engineer Michael Kamau said Kenya will present a fresh plan for the abandoned road project to the World Bank board next March for funding. "We are now at the preparation stage. Preparation means putting the funding together," Kamau said. "So we are continuing with the World Bank. We want to do a flyover from St James Hospital all the way to James Gichuru. So we have extended it from Westlands to James Gichuru and from Nyayo Stadium Roundabout to St. James."

Initially the project was to cost Sh67billion and was to be undertaken by a consortium led by Strabag International. Kamau spoke on the sidelines of an ongoing government roundtable conference with Arab Development Partners. He added that funding agreements for the Nairobi southern bypass road to the tune of Sh14billion are close to being signed with the Chinese government.

Kamau said the road would be built to dual carriageway standard over the 28kilometre stretch from Ole Sereni Hotel across Langata Road to Kikuyu Town. "The Chinese have agreed to fund it completely. They sent the finance agreements," Kamau told The Star.

"Our Attorney General looked at it and made very slight comments. We have sent it back to the Chinese government for agreement then Treasury and Chinese government will sign it." Once signed, the project is expected to take up to 30 months to complete and will see heavy commercial vehicles switch from Mombasa Road and Waiyaki Way

Is there really any need to have an elevated road this long when transit traffic along the same route is also supposed to be catered for by the southern bypass?
I think what we need on this route is grid separated junctions and no more, otherwise the funds allocate here can go a long way in alleviating travel headaches in more deserving cases like dualling of Ngong road or outering road.

The whole idea of the elevated highway is to serve those who live or work or go to school at both ends of the city without stopping within the vicinity of the city centre. Grid separated junctions will not be of much help in the long run especially as the number of personal cars skyrockets.

Besides, those other roads you mentioned will soon be upgraded to dual carriageways. There's nothing to lose in building this project.

You may have missed a previous discussion on this elevated highway. In the long run it's a very sensible solution to the traffic problem. I doubt that it's there to cater to just transit traffic; it's there to cater to traffic going anywhere in-between that will be able to exit at certain points without having to contend with the numerous round-abouts and traffic lights. An elevated highway simply will add to the existing lanes without the need to displace current business, as was envisioned in previous plans. With or without the by-passes, this is a major artery into and out of the city, not to mention within it too.

[/B]Is there really any need to have an elevated road this long when transit traffic along the same route is also supposed to be catered for by the southern bypass?
I think what we need on this route is grid separated junctions and no more, otherwise the funds allocate here can go a long way in alleviating travel headaches in more deserving cases like dualling of Ngong road or outering road.

I found this article posted in the Sao Paulo thread in the Oasis. got me wondering if we might have similar views once Nairobi gets its own "worm".

Sao Paulo’s ‘Big Worm,’ an elevated highway, must go, urban planners say

By Juan Forero, Published: October 14 | Updated: Saturday, October 15, 8:43 PM

SAO PAULO — It’s called the Big Worm — a 2.2 mile-long elevated highway that wiggles through the center of South America’s largest city, curving beside bedroom windows of once-elegant art deco buildings and carrying 80,000 noisy vehicles through a wide swath of cityscape each day.

Urban planners say that the 40-year-old concrete monster has no place in Sao Paulo and that flattening it should be on the city’s to-do list if this sprawling metropolis is to modernize. This city, Brazil’s economic heart, has to revamp the kind of out-of-date infrastructure embodied by the Worm, those planners say, if Brazil is to maintain the strong growth that has transformed the economy into one of the world’s most vibrant.

“Demolish it!” said Pedro Taddei Neto, an architect and urban planning expert from the University of Sao Paulo. “The developed world is demolishing structures like this. We have to follow their lead.”

At a recent conference on Sao Paulo’s future, urban planners from New York, Singapore, Barcelona and China told their Brazilian counterparts that the city needs a makeover. That means expanding the subway, carving out underground highways, adding parks, revamping airports and razing elevated highways such as the Worm.

“There is a great urban diamond to discover, to develop,” said Alfonso Vegara, among the designers of modern Barcelona. But he cautioned: Such a complex and expensive undertaking would not be easy in a metropolitan area of 3,000 square miles.

The only way to succeed, said Robert Yaro of New York’s Regional Plan Association, is to think big and stay the course, for decades if needed. “This is not for the impatient,” he counseled.

Sao Paulo planners nodded in agreement — and it is easy to see why.

This may be a cosmopolitan, vibrant, rich city, as demonstrated by its thousands of skyscrapers and the helicopters ferrying executives across town. But it is also a mess. A thousand new cars are introduced to traffic-choked streets each day. The subway system has roughly 60 stations and 50 miles of track; New York’s has 468 stations and more than 800 miles of track. Business travelers rate Sao Paulo’s international airport the worst on the continent.

A race to build big

Like mega-cities the world over, Sao Paulo became a victim of poor planning and its own success. Its population has soared from barely 2 million in 1950 to nearly 11 million today, as the city and its industrial suburbs became the manufacturing center of a largely urbanized country. About 20 million people live in the metropolitan area.

In a race to build big and build fast, Sao Paulo paved over parks and built highways now considered poorly conceived. That included the Presidente Artur da Costa e Silva elevated highway, which soon became known as the Minhocao, a giant mythical worm that was said to inhabit the jungle and swallow up whatever it came across.

The Worm immediately provided an important corridor for traffic once it was completed in 1971. It also carved across venerable Avenida Sao Joao, a once-stylish thoroughfare that had been lined with parks, cafes and landmark apartment houses.

“In the '30s, it was like belle epoque,” said Paulo Pastorelo, 32, who, with Maira Buhler and Joao Sodre, directed a documentary about the Worm.

In the film, called “Elevado 3.5,” a reference to the expressway’s length in kilometers, the filmmakers use vintage footage to show what had once been a vibrant residential neighborhood. Those clips are juxtaposed with today’s reality, a gritty stretch of secondhand shops and dingy diners. Many of those who live nearby are elderly struggling pensioners. At night, prostitutes, crack dealers and the homeless gather under the Worm.

“This was a garden, a garden that you could stroll through,” said Luiz Solazzi, who has sold eyeglasses and clocks from the same storefront since 1960. “After the Worm, it got a lot worse.”

A love-hate relationship

Anne Marie Sumner, an architect and urban planner who has proposed ambitious projects to Sao Paulo officials, said elevated expressways are a thing of the past.

“You can’t face-lift the Worm. There are certain things there is no face-lifting to it,” Sumner said. “You have to pull it down.”

Sumner and a group of architects have proposed remaking Avenida Sao Joao into a pedestrian-friendly thoroughfare, one open to the sun. “You can’t have someone living at three meters [10 feet] of chockablock traffic, fumes,” Sumner said. “I mean, you can’t. That’s not reasonable.”

The city’s secretary of urban development, Miguel Luiz Bucalem, said the Worm cannot go unless other major transportation routes, such as a proposed underground expressway, have been built to replace it.

“What we feel very strongly,” Bucalem said, “is that the Elevado has had a very bad impact in its vicinity for so many years.”

Few would agree more than Roberto Silva, 59, whose only window is just 10 yards from traffic whizzing by at 50 mph.

“The noise is hellish,” Silva said, adding that after a day of traffic, his room is covered in dust.

Silva’s home was once a bathroom. Now it is a 3-by-7-foot studio, barely big enough to hold his bed. It is a sign of the hard lives of those along the Worm, he said.

Still, after 40 years, many of the Worm’s neighbors have something of a love-hate relationship with the omnipresent expressway.

“People hate it, because it’s noisy and dirty and they can’t keep their window opened,” said Buhler, the documentary director. “But at the same time, they love it, because it’s their place in the city, the place where they raise their families, they spread their values, they buy their food.”

Every day, Neide Batochio, 72, opens her window facing the Worm and sits at a century-old Singer to sew, passing the time singing Italian ballads and watching the traffic.

“For me, this is part of my life; it does not bother me, really,” said Batochio, who has lived in her home for 50 years. For her, the din symbolizes all she loves about the vitality of Sao Paulo.

“Without the Elevado,” she said, “the quality of life would be very bad.”

© The Washington Post Company

There is a feasibility study advertised for preparation of bid documents for the rehabilitation and capacity enhancement of A104 from James Gichuru junction to Rironi.
How i wish the railways sector was working even at half speed!

There is a feasibility study advertised for preparation of bid documents for the rehabilitation and capacity enhancement of A104 from James Gichuru junction to Rironi.
How i wish the railways sector was working even at half speed!

I thought I was the only one who noticed that ad. The highways authority also advertised for the enhancement of the section between JKIA and Likoni road (Where the southern Bypass starts).

I have a feeling they want to extend the dual carriage way a short distance into Likoni road which will link with the Southern bypass dual carriageway in a cloverleaf interchange over Mombasa road (or a three level spaghetti Junction if the elevated highway also gets built at this point). I guess we will see what happens.:)

Also advertised, the dualling of the Airport south road, and enhancing the JKIA turnoff (I think they want to add an extra lane on either side upto the airport). I hope Jaribu will shed more light on this.

How about this?

http://www.cowi.com/menu/NewsandMedia/News/RailwaysRoadsandAirports/PublishingImages/Highway_COWI_P5_high.jpg?wax-srv=7lRkaeLWOupRcywspdGj9A3A
Nairobi is situated along the Great North Road that links the landlocked Uganda and other countries to the port of Mombasa. The initial layout of Nairobi's main road system was reasonably well planned and spacious, but the city's development has not been able to keep up with the explosive population growth and daily traffic volume of 75,000 vehicles.

COWI and its local partner Otieno Odongo and Partners have been commissioned by the Kenya National Highways Authority to design the expansion of the Likoni Road Junction to James Gichuru Road Junction on the A104 – a highway stretch of 12 kilometres. The assignment involves capacity improvement of the existing 2-3 lane dual carriageway by design of additional lanes and grade-separated intersections in the form of flyovers and elevated road sections.

Designing aesthetic solutions based on new analysis toolsThe road link passes right through Nairobi's central business district next to the beautiful Uhuru Park. One of the challenges for COWI's design team is to come up with an aesthetical solution that respects the need for increased traffic capacity as well as the pristine surroundings.

In the design phase, COWI will not only take into consideration the city's surroundings. Traffic simulations and analyses will also be used in order to ensure that the city's traffic congestions will in fact be significantly reduced with the expansion of the highway.
Improving road and public transport

Nairobi's population in the day is much higher than in the night. During day times, Nairobi gathers many people from the neighbouring districts of Thika, Kiambu, Muranga, Kajiado and Machakos who come to Nairobi to work, to study and to do business. Not only does this flow of people impact on the road traffic, it also increases the demand for public transport.

The Kenya National Highway Authority is therefore also looking into the options for improving the public transport with a Bus Rapid Transport System. "In order to address the near traffic crisis we are experiencing in the urban centres, especially during the peak hours of morning and evening, we are engaging other stakeholders to come up with long-term solutions," says Denis Odeck (Eng.), Manager in charge of the NUTRIP project.

A very good start.

How about this?

@Dhuks +1 that road will transform the city completely

How about this?


So even the design had not been done yet? I thought the Nairobi Motorway Project had already been designed when the world bank was funding it? Because I recall they were just waiting for construction to start and things fell apart at due diligence stage.

You may recall that the current design is a totally new animal. The original one was not an elevated road and that's why there were plans for massive demolitions of businesses along the road. After some heavy lobbying from those affected, the government shelved the original plans.


So even the design had not been done yet? I thought the Nairobi Motorway Project had already been designed when the world bank was funding it? Because I recall they were just waiting for construction to start and things fell apart at due diligence stage.

You will also recall that the original design had the whole transport corridor as a toll road, had incorporated the southern bypass which is now a different project plus i doubt it was to go past westlands while the current one goes all the way to Rironi.

Dongo Kundu project. The Sh29 billion bypass expected to help commuters cut reliance on Likoni ferry



Kenya has secured a Sh29 billion loan from Japan for construction of a bypass in Mombasa, boosting efforts to ease movement of cargo from the port.
...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................


Mr Githae also said officials from the Treasury and the Ministry of Roads were in Washington negotiating with the World Bank over a loan for the expansion of Nairobi’s Uhuru Highway.

He said a technical team from the Bretton Woods Institution had already given the Uhuru Highway project a go-ahead and it was now upon the executive board to make the decision on whether to approve it or not.

The expansion project will cost Sh34 billion ($400 million) with the World Bank contributing Sh26 billion ($300 million) and the government injecting the remaining cash.

The road, that will include a four-kilometre overpass, would connect the city from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to Westlands.


Good news


isnt this old?
http://www.tradeinvestkenya.com/investment_opportunities/1251683.htm

^^
So now this project spans all the way to Konza. The distances just keep getting longer.

^^
So now this project spans all the way to Konza. The distances just keep getting longer.

Thats why i was asking whether that's old coz i believe its the project as originally designed.


more details
Top Ministry of Finance and Roads officials are in Washington DC to negotiate with the World Bank for the revival of the collapsed Nairobi-Urban Toll Road, this time as a Sh34billion public-funded project. The issue is being pursued as a matter of urgency because as Thika Road nears completion, the amount of traffic that is expected to pour into Uhuru Highway could cripple traffic movement.

Finance Minister Njeru Githae said yesterday that officials including Treasury permanent secretary Joseph Kinyua, Roads PS Michael Kamau, Kenya National Highway Authority officials and other technical teams from the ministries are negotiating with World Bank technical teams for funding to the tune of US$300million (Sh25billion) for the project. “We have a full team from Treasury and the Ministry of Roads there,” Githae said. “The good news is that the technical team of the World Bank has actually approved, subject to the approval of the World Bank board, US$300m. We are required as government to contribute about $100m (Sh8.3bn).”

Githae spoke when he signed for the Sh29bn Mombasa Port area road project with the Japanese. The project had initially been planned as a toll-road project and a consortium led by Strabag picked to carry it out. It collapsed when World Bank, through its private-lending arm, the International Finance Corporation, pulled out claiming it was poorly structured.

According to the cost estimates and financing plan drawn up by Treasury, the project will consist of three sections. Section one will consist of 7km of six lanes to run from JKIA junction to the Southern Bypass junction and will cost Sh3.6bn. It will also feature 8km of service and access roads and three interchanges.

Section two which will cost Sh11.2bn will run from the Southern Bypass junction to James Gichuru road junction, a distance of 12km. It will include nine interchanges to get rid of the roundabouts in between such as Nyayo Stadium, Westlands, University Way and Haile Selassie roundabouts and also feature 4km of elevated highway.

Section three will run from James Gichuru Road junction to Rironi, 26km, of which will include 7km of six-lane highway and 19km of 4 lanes. Roads minister Franklin Bett said the project is important to prevent traffic gridlock on Uhuru Highway. “On the completion of Nairobi-Thika highway, I expect a deluge of traffic onto Uhuru Highway,” Bett said. “My PS and officials including Treasury are in Washington to discuss with the World Bank." The World Bank through its International Development Agency, is Kenya's largest lender for development projects particularly roads and energy.

Thats why i was asking whether that's old coz i believe its the project as originally designed.


more details

what do they mean by 6 lane?six by six ...or three by three?that always kinda confuses me when i read news bout road construction.curently mombasa road has 3 by 3 lanes...i wonder if they are going to add other lanes or the recently added lane(2years) was part of the plan coz it was about that time they were to do this project.and then again is there really space for more lanes?bet we'll see lots of demolitions.but its a good project!hope it works out this time.Can only imagyn how things could have been now if this project started at same time with thika road as originally planned.world bank sucks...dont put much hope in their fundings this days

June 5, 2012
The project that is funded by the government and the World Bank is part of KeNHA’s larger plan to improve the thoroughfare from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to Rironi/FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 5 – Uhuru Highway is set to undergo major revamping beginning next year that will ease the flow of traffic from Likoni Road to the James Gichuru interchange.

Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) Director General Meshack Kidenda said the construction is scheduled to begin in 2013 with completion expected by 2015.



“The section we are working on is 12 kilometres between St. James Hospital and James Gichuru; building an elevated road or flyover. We’ll replace the roundabouts as well,” he said.

Other improvements will include proper pedestrian pavements, service roads and a functional storm water drainage system.

In addition the design will also include a bus rapid transit (BRT) lane to streamline the flow of public service vehicles on the highway.

“Bus rapid transit is a concept where you use high capacity buses that carry 200 people in a dedicated lane so they have right of way. They are programmed and timed so they are reliable,” he explained.

The project that is funded by the government and the World Bank is part of KeNHA’s larger plan to improve the thoroughfare from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to Rironi.

The designs by Danish firm COWI, are still in the consultative phase involving local stakeholders.

However, until those plans are finalised local authorities will be taking preliminary measures to ensure safety on the roads during construction to avoid the incidents of the Thika Superhighway Project.

“We are coming up with a construction travel management mechanism with the contractor, to give road users a guide on use of the road during construction,” Senior Superintendent of Police Leonard Katana said.

He added that they will put up a control centre equipped with CCTV cameras to monitor activity on the road.

On Wednesday, police will be on a fact finding mission to gather data on the number of vehicles on the road and views from motorists on the anticipated changes on Uhuru Highway.

“This is not a crackdown. From 7am to 7pm tomorrow (Wednesday) we will be on Mombasa Road especially at Kapiti and next to Nyayo Stadium and we will stop vehicles randomly and ask them what they think should be done on the road,” he said.

They will also be along Waiyaki Way before James Gichuru and Thika Road as well as the Southern and Eastern bypasses.
Seems like they quietly got what they wanted in Washington. There are always new twists in this project; now its a dedicated bus lane.

There is a views gathering exercise for those interested to know more.

Resettlement Action Plan

RESETTLEMENT ACTION PLAN (RAP) FOR THE PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION OF ADDITIONAL LANES ON JKIA - LIKONI - JAMES GICHURU- RIRONI ROAD (A104) AND ASSOCIATED FOUR (4) PROJECTS.

KeNHA intends to carry out construction of additional lanes and rehabilitation of JKIA - Likoni - James Gichuru - Rironi Road (A104) and associated 4 Roads Projects. The proposed construction and rehabilitation will have the potential effect of creating environmental and social impacts through involuntary displacement of persons carrying out informal business within the highway road reserve.

The specific components of the project include the following;

Construction of additional two (2) lanes from JKIA-Nyayo Stadium (approx. 12km)
Construction of an elevated roadway with two (2) lanes on either side from Nyayo Stadium to Museum Hill Roundabout (approx. 4km)
Construction of additional two (2) lanes on either side from Museum Hill Roundabout to Uthiru (approx.) 12km).
Rehabilitation of the existing carriageway from Uthiru to Rironi (approx.18km).
Dualling of Airport South Road (approx. 3km)
Construction of access road to the proposed Barabara Plaza (approx. 2km)
Widening of access road to Inland Container Depot (approx. 2km)
Widening of access to JKIA Airport (approx. 2km).

That's great!:cool:

That's great!:cool:

Project to start next year and complete by 2015 according to a news bulletin last night.

Cant wait for that warm Sunday afternoon cruise on the elevated highway with the shiny skyscrapers on one side and a birds eye view over Uhuru park on the other.

Project to start next year and complete by 2015 according to a news bulletin last night.

Cant wait for that warm Sunday afternoon cruise on the elevated highway with the shiny skyscrapers on one side and a birds eye view over Uhuru park on the other.

yeeea!! but that's only 4 km's. now, at 50kph -> 5min's ride hehe.

I hope this goes without hitches. I would love for this to be completed on time.

Hopefully this will eliminate my 2-3 hour commutes each way to work on days!

Radio sources are quoting the loan amount at about 200 million dollars which would be like half of what was budgeted, does anyone have a source with these details?

June 5, 2012

Seems like they quietly got what they wanted in Washington. There are always new twists in this project; now its a dedicated bus lane.

There is a views gathering exercise for those interested to know more.

Resettlement Action Plan


What is the proposed Barabara Plaza and where will it be?

I doubt if US$200mn is sufficient to build all these road projects. Where is the source of funding, the syndicated loan or World Bank? How much is our govt. contributing? Who are the contractors? I'd prefer the Chinese or the people who did Athi River JKIA expansion!!

Read this piece for more design info, engineers may help us understand the details of the article and what its content means!! http://www.the-star.co.ke/national/national/78925-design-for-nairobi-highway-unveiled

Project team leader Brian Segar of COWI Consulting Engineers and Planners said yesterday that the total road improvement would cover 12km starting from the Likoni Road junction at Ole Sereni Hotel to James Gichuru junction off Waiyaki Way. At the Kapiti/Popo roads junction in South B and C, the consultants have proposed an overpass over Mombasa Road linking the two roads with a diamond type ramp on the South B side to minimize land acquisition. On the South C side, there will be a quarter link behind the estate from Mombasa Road.

The Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC) flyover linking KIMC with South C will not be tampered with, but there will be rehabilitation of the road asphalt and kerbs, with additional repaintings on the road markings. Segar said there will be a major overhaul of the Nyayo Stadium roundabout, notorious for contributing ti traffic congestion. An overpass will be built from Langata Road to link with Lusaka Road in Industrial Area.

The consultants Senior Urban Highway Design Engineer, Asoka Prasantha said the Nyayo stadium roundabout will be demolished to pave way for a ‘single point diamond interchange.’ "Motorists from the airport will use the existing road, driving past what is now the roundabout and head towards the city centre," Asoka said. He added that a ‘difficult interchange’ will replace the Bunyala Road roundabout with prospects of the Aerodrome Road being closed completely. "Motorists coming from Upper Hill to the airport will drive on top of an overpass which will be built, towards Bunyala Road, then take a left turn near the church then join Uhuru Highway after going through the loop," Asoka added.

When approaching Haile Selassie roundabout, an elevated roadway-viaduct will be constructed which will end past the current University Way roundabout. Haile Selassie Rroad, Kenyatta Avenue and University Way will all pass below the elevated roadway-viaduct. With the Museum Hill Interchange sorted out as part of the nearly complete Thika Superhighway Improvement Project, the project proposes the elimination of the U-Turns at ***Riverside Drive and access roads to Parklands, with an over bridge on top of the Westlands roundabout to be built to maintain accessibility.

Which church is this at Bunyala?

****push the entry to riverside all the way to westlands roundabout?

expanded museum hill interchange
http://www.the-star.co.ke/images/stories//633153/633153-113551.png

BRT here (http://www.kura.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/ToR-BRT_World-Bank_2012.pdf)

They probably meant a Mosque but this project looks so damn promising i also cant wait to drive on it and ride on the BRT network

The proposed revamp of the Uhuru Highway is the second transformaiton of an arterial road of the Nairobi area into a controlled-access road, after Thika Road. I get the point of adding lanes to a majority of the corridor from Jomo Kenyatta Airport to Rironi. Some points I do not get, however, are the dualling of the Airport South Road and the proposed Barabara Plaza, since it is unknown what those are. Also, there are supposed to be 2 dedicated lanes for the BRT line, How long is that corridor supposed to be, as long as the expanded portion of the Uhuru Highway?

Am not sure about this but i think some sections of the project have been shelved probably awaiting more funding, you will note they are quite specific about 12km in their latest dispatches.

You think the government should just take the plans to the Chinese or our own kenyan contractors or south african road builders etc because the WorldBank would stall these projects 8months in using the elections against us as a form of leverage.. no wonder they havent released all of the necessary info because they are waiting with a baited breath for us to yield.

You think the government should just take the plans to the Chinese or our own kenyan contractors or south african road builders etc because the WorldBank would stall these projects 8months in using the elections against us as a form of leverage.. no wonder they havent released all of the necessary info because they are wait with baited breath for us to yield.

how i hope they could have done that ages before.this project was to be kicked start with the thika road project and finished at the same time.african development bank funded thika road...but gues thika road could have still been the same if they went to world bank too.
they delinked the southern bypass project from this one and got funding from chinease and ground breaking done.wont be suprised next year if the world bank again cancels the deal at last minute.its been their way of doing things

The chinese might be the only way out after all

how i hope they could have done that ages before.this project was to be kicked start with the thika road project and finished at the same time.african development bank funded thika road...but gues thika road could have still been the same if they went to world bank too.
they delinked the southern bypass project from this one and got funding from chinease and ground breaking done.wont be suprised next year if the world bank again cancels the deal at last minute.its been their way of doing things

Exactly we cant trust them anymore with infrastructure project even look at JKIA WorldBank funded and the project has gone on and off for the last 6 years i believe all because of the political climate. No wonder Kibaki has been putting them on the afterburners when they come visit him in state house since they have foiled his infrastructure projects which were in the 100s i believe..... In a few years kenya will be able to fund its own mega projects( to do that turn nairboi into a financial hub etc instead of a commercial/industrial, turn mombasa and other prime industrial cities to the manufacturing hubs of the country etc then you will see GDP rise etc)

I see that you guys are very pessimistic, quite understandable judging by the stage the previous project collapsed in.

^^ well im both Dhuks waiting with a baited breath for these projects to kick start

I see that you guys are very pessimistic, quite understandable judging by the stage the previous project collapsed in.

only pessimistic bout world bank funded projects.im optimistic the project will be done one day ...but not sure if its gona be world bank.if its gona be world bank the we should be ready to wait.lol

im just judging by the past

The proposed revamp of the Uhuru Highway is the second transformaiton of an arterial road of the Nairobi area into a controlled-access road, after Thika Road. I get the point of adding lanes to a majority of the corridor from Jomo Kenyatta Airport to Rironi. Some points I do not get, however, are the dualling of the Airport South Road and the proposed Barabara Plaza, since it is unknown what those are. Also, there are supposed to be 2 dedicated lanes for the BRT line, How long is that corridor supposed to be, as long as the expanded portion of the Uhuru Highway?

Airport South road is the road that leads directly into JKIA. It's expansion was inevitable into at least a 3x3 road especially when you consider the Greenfield terminal project.

i understand what you saying royco mchuzi...world bank funded projects are primarily a headache...they have too much conditions tired to their projects and control...usually they are done by their chosen contractors...its not so competitive for them it was serves their interest.i think the chinese coming in they have brought alot of relief,the thika highway initially was to be funded by world bank but it stalled due to conditionalities that surmounted to too much interference...the govt backed out.that is why the kenyan govt is welcoming the japs,chinese to come and start building...once the doc is signed...give it months they will be on it....

i think you really have to look at the european crisis and see what the imf and world bank are doing....i think we have welcomed them to invest in big projects such energy...someone will have to pay for it...how it will be paid...nobody knows...kenyan is net importer not exporter...the oil revenue that will be coming will surely be going to world bank and imf coffers...

Airport South road is the road that leads directly into JKIA. It's expansion was inevitable into at least a 3x3 road especially when you consider the Greenfield terminal project.

I however think that it has been excluded after they failed to secure the whole amount as originally envisaged.

The proposed revamp of the Uhuru Highway is the second transformaiton of an arterial road of the Nairobi area into a controlled-access road, after Thika Road. I get the point of adding lanes to a majority of the corridor from Jomo Kenyatta Airport to Rironi. Some points I do not get, however, are the dualling of the Airport South Road and the proposed Barabara Plaza, since it is unknown what those are. Also, there are supposed to be 2 dedicated lanes for the BRT line, How long is that corridor supposed to be, as long as the expanded portion of the Uhuru Highway?

came across this interesting article from the consulting Danish company that has completed the new design

http://www.cowi.com/menu/NewsandMedia/News/RailwaysRoadsandAirports/Pages/Improving-road-conditions-in-Nairobi-Kenya.aspx

Same story appears in a local online site:
http://www.constructionkenya.com/2550/design-for-elevated-nairobi-highway-complete/

This thing is well underway and it will transform Nai like we have never seen. The best part of the article I found to be the following::banana:

Designing aesthetic solutions based on new analysis tools
The road link passes right through Nairobi's central business district next to the beautiful Uhuru Park. One of the challenges for COWI's design team is to come up with an aesthetical solution that respects the need for increased traffic capacity as well as the pristine surroundings.

In the design phase, COWI will not only take into consideration the city's surroundings. Traffic simulations and analyses will also be used in order to ensure that the city's traffic congestions will in fact be significantly reduced with the expansion of the highway.

Besides the Thika Road and Uhuru Highway, are there any other roads in the Nairobi area that should be transformed into a controlled-access highway?

Besides the Thika Road and Uhuru Highway, are there any other roads in the Nairobi area that should be transformed into a controlled-access highway?


Jogoo road, Ngong Road

^^ Also, I think the three bypasses (North, East, West) should have been controlled access roads.

^^ Also, I think the three bypasses (North, East, West) should have been controlled access roads.

cant have controlled access roads in most roads in kenya coz the interior network is not well developed.for instance theres only one or two ways to get to town from westlands.somehow our network has controlled access since not so many roads feeed into our highways

the whole controlled acess road thing applies to places/countries were they have a vast network.like in the states there are several parallel roads every block.so u can get to a place through many different ways

Also, are there gonna be any actual toll plazas on some of Nairobi roads?

Also, are there gonna be any actual toll plazas on some of Nairobi roads?

So far, only on Thika Road.

Do you think that loan that the Brazilian Development Bank is giving Kenya for Nairobi road construction will be used on this project?

Do you think that loan that the Brazilian Development Bank is giving Kenya for Nairobi road construction will be used on this project?

Maybe, since they mentioned that loan being used to build more interchanges. Other than the Mombasa road-Uhuru highway-Waiyaki way stretch, the other major roads in dire need of interchanges are in Eastlands, Langata and Ngong road IMO.

Are those "additional two (2) lanes on either side to be constructed in the future..." some sort of frontage roads to be attached to Waiyaki Way/Uhuru Highway/Mombasa Road? Or are they additional lanes for the main road?

Are those "additional two (2) lanes on either side to be constructed in the future..." some sort of frontage roads to be attached to Waiyaki Way/Uhuru Highway/Mombasa Road? Or are they additional lanes for the main road?

They will most likely be service lanes to complement the main highway.

I was wondering why they cannot design the Uhuru highway viaduct as a 3x3 highway.

Has this project been funded already? Reason i ask is when recently Kibaki got some money from Brazil it was mentioned that it will fund construction of flyovers in Nairobi and now this
http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000061367&story_title=Kenya-in-talks-with-World-Bank-for-Sh25b-decker-road

Gxc_aAF3fAE

Ngoja tu, Kenyans will now call the viaduct the 'Uhuru Skyway' :)

Ngoja tu, Kenyans will now call the viaduct the 'Uhuru Skyway' :)

haha....kama superhighway.
lol.Im not hating and i like the maendeleo.
BY way regarding this toll project ...read nation newspaper yesterday...saying the viaduct should start at nyayo stadium to westi.does that mean the govt has gone back to initial plans and scrapped the plan to have one start at st james hospital to james gchuru or the reporter was simply not doing his homework?

Gxc_aAF3fAE

i hope they would transplant alll those trees starting to grow.but this shows how uncordinated different arms of govt are.
the guys beautifying the highway should look at blue prints of proposed projects.siwezi kua suprised to see kanjo building a fountain at nyayo roundabout using millions ..then have it demolished a few months later.

who remembers the fountain on university way plus the police flats.seems this guys dont read the papers leave alone take time to look at plans

I'm assuming construction will start early next year given that the funding has been secured.

This is the second time i am asking about funding of this project, Githae just said they are approaching AfDB with an intention of securing funding for a project that involves removal of roundabouts from Jkia to Museum Hill.
The latest funding for Jkia to Rironi conveniently doesn't mention any viaduct and includes other things like rail even roads outside Nairobi. Is this project split into parts that have to be financed separately or are they taking us for a ride?

Mombasa road is a 6 lane almost to JKIA having added extra lanes not too long ago. Why do they do that when they are thinking of redoing the whole road. Why waste so much taxpayers money

This is the second time i am asking about funding of this project, Githae just said they are approaching AfDB with an intention of securing funding for a project that involves removal of roundabouts from Jkia to Museum Hill.
The latest funding for Jkia to Rironi conveniently doesn't mention any viaduct and includes other things like rail even roads outside Nairobi. Is this project split into parts that have to be financed separately or are they taking us for a ride?

Below is another article from the Star http://www.the-star.co.ke/national/national/88061-sh255-billion-for-city-roads-rail-upgrade. It is more detailed but as you rightly observed, the viaduct is not mentioned. The only interesting part is that for the first time, it mentions that funding for Outering Road has been secured (at least Ksh. 3.5 B of the required Ksh 6 B.

Sh25.5 billion for city roads, rail upgrade .


Saturday, 04 August 2012 00:05 BY JAMES WAITHAKA


.

Commuters can look forward to reduced congestion after the World Bank released a Sh25.5 billion for the upgrade of roads and rail transport in Nairobi and several other towns. The amount, in addition to Sh9.6 billion from the Kenya government, will be channelled into the National Urban Transport Improvement Project.

The funds will go towards the expansion of Uhuru Highway, which dissects Nairobi CBD, and initiate rapid bus transit and commuter rail systems. “By helping to ease traffic congestion and develop a modern commuter system, this project will enable Nairobi to remain a great city in which to live and to do business,” WB Kenya country director, Johannes Zutt said in statement issued in Washington on Thursday.

Major components of the project include expansion and upgrading of the highway, service and access roads from JKIA through Museum Hill to Rironi road on the Northern Corridor transport system. The project also includes financing construction of by-passes in Kisumu in Western and Meru in Eastern Kenya and the building and operation of new rapid bus and rail transport systems to increase the volume while speeding up passenger and freight services around the country’s urban areas. “The process of reforming the urban transport has just begun and its ultimate success will require widespread community support,” said the project’s Task Team leader Josphat Sasia.

The funding comes hot in the heels of ongoing negotiations between Kenya and China government to fund the second phase of the Adams Arcade-Karen-Ngong-Bomas road. The Ministry of Roads on Thursday said the project will cost an estimated Sh15 billion. It will involve upgrading 30Km into dual carriageway and provision of service roads, walkways, cycle tracks and footbridges.

It will also include separate grade intersections at Dagoretti Corner, junction with Southern Bypass and Karen shopping centre. “The intention of the ongoing road projects is to grow investment and trade by reducing the cost of transportation,” said Eng. Gilbert Arasa, registrar of Engineers Registration Board of Kenya. Detailed engineering designs for the project will be completed by end of this month, with works expected to commence early 2013. It will have a 36-month contract period with completion expected early 2016.

A National Metropolitan Transport Authority is about to be established to coordinate and regulate public transport, while recommending policies on pricing and investments, financing equipment and related traffic management systems. The World Bank, Africa Development Bank, EU, Japan and China are currently helping Kenya to modernise its transport system and remove barriers, to create a more dynamic business climate as a key entry hub into the wider East Africa region.

The NUTRIP project will be financed by the International Development Association, which is World Bank’s zero-interest fund for world’s poorest countries that is repaid in 40 years with a grace period of 10 years. A Sh3.5 billion financing agreement has also been signed with the AfDB for the dualling of Outer Ring Road, which will cost an estimated Sh6 billion. The Roads ministry said negotiations are ongoing for additional funding. The project will commence early 2013 and end in 36 months. Several other missing links roads projects are in the pipeline and are expected to commence in 2013 with most of the funding having been secured already

Mombasa road is a 6 lane almost to JKIA having added extra lanes not too long ago. Why do they do that when they are thinking of redoing the whole road. Why waste so much taxpayers money
mombasa road expansion was done by the chinese for free....from jkia and was supposed to o all way to gigiri.siasa meddled in and got tilll museum hill.then why say waste taxpayers cash?the road was in a bad state potholes.the amount tht could have gone to waste in terms of 'economic loss" is way greater than cost of making the road..which we didnt pay for in the start.again depending on design...they might just add extra lanes and recarpet the existing one..ie cutting cost.thika road was made from scratch since the road had finished its life term and road design was total different from existing one.so lets wait stop whining

Mombasa road is a 6 lane almost to JKIA having added extra lanes not too long ago. Why do they do that when they are thinking of redoing the whole road. Why waste so much taxpayers money

JKIA-Museum hill is good as it is, the only thing needed is removal of roundabout and construction of footbridges so even if it may have used taxpayers money hakuna hasara.
Btw ever took keen interest on that road surface? It is as it was when they laid it.

JKIA-Museum hill is good as it is, the only thing needed is removal of roundabout and construction of footbridges so even if it may have used taxpayers money hakuna hasara.
Btw ever took keen interest on that road surface? It is as it was when they laid it.

We need 8 lanes, interchanges and trams at the same time, and we have the money so why not. See how traffic has improved on Thika road, it now takes approx 10 minutes from GSU HQs compared to even 2 hrs before. So Lets go for it all because I know we can!! No stopping!!

An 8 lane viaduct, 2 two lane access roads on the ground and a light rail under the viaduct. Thats what i can like it to be

FYI, here is a vid on Elevado 3.5 in Sao Paulo, that was mentioned earlier. I can see why people hate it there. The one in Nairobi should do far less urban damage given that there are only large buildings on one side of the Skyway.

c3rUqKgl-yA

FYI, here is a vid on Elevado 3.5 in Sao Paulo, that was mentioned earlier. I can see why people hate it there. The one in Nairobi should do far less urban damage given that there are only large buildings on one side of the Skyway.

It still has the potential of eating into the green belt ( Railways Golf Club, Uhuru park, Central Park, UoN grounds) given that space is needed for the BRT system and access roads.

It still has the potential of eating into the green belt ( Railways Golf Club, Uhuru park, Central Park, UoN grounds) given that space is needed for the BRT system and access roads.

More details in this report

http://www.kenha.co.ke/downloads/notices/Final%20ESIA%20Report-JKIA-Rironi_April%202012.pdf

Between Haille Selassie Roundabout and University way roundabout a dual three lane carriageway will be provided by adding three lanes to western side of the existing road and shifting the center-line by one and a half lane widths westwards .
The existing southbound carriage will be rehabilitated for the BRT.

I hope a Chinese consortium wins this tender so that we have some harmony on both uhuru highway and thika road :-

Deal on Sh25bn double decker road and new by-passes signed



The signing of the loan, which was approved in August by the World Bank board, means the government can now issue tender notices for the road construction.
The double decker road will run from Nyayo National Stadium — connecting Mombasa Road to Westlands roundabout.
It is likely to end what has become a nightmare section for motorists in Nairobi, owing to congestion.
The money will also be used to expand Waiyaki Way up to Rironi to create an extra lane for commuter buses.



SOURCE:
http://www.nation.co.ke/business/news/Deal+on+Sh25bn+double+decker+road+signed/-/1006/1518326/-/7nsodyz/-/index.html

I hope a Chinese consortium wins this tender so that we have some harmony on both uhuru highway and thika road :-

Deal on Sh25bn double decker road and new by-passes signed



SOURCE:
http://www.nation.co.ke/business/news/Deal+on+Sh25bn+double+decker+road+signed/-/1006/1518326/-/7nsodyz/-/index.html


I like the Chinese for their workmanship, seriousness and work ethic. Straight to the point, building a road mean doing just that, no corners!! and they work diligently with speed! I wish them the best in the tender. China bridge and ...should win it!

I like the Chinese for their workmanship, seriousness and work ethic. Straight to the point, building a road mean doing just that, no corners!! and they work diligently with speed! I wish them the best in the tender. China bridge and ...should win it!

China road and bridges have too much on their plate already.

China road and bridges have too much on their plate already.


Really, I cannot say and wouldn't say that. So which one Wu Yi? or which one!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vv2cvGMmwOc

:banana:

Really, I cannot say and wouldn't say that. So which one Wu Yi? or which one!


Crbc has southern bypass,port dredging,new railway that the chinese have signed deal with Kenya and more while Wu Yi are engaged in at least three contracts thats why they have sub-contracted Langata road to a Kenyan company.
Since most of the work involves some road above ground we should aim to get the best and i think SinoHydro fits the bill if it has to be chinese.

... thats why they have sub-contracted Langata road to a Kenyan company.

Really? I don't think so. I could be wrong but from what i've seen, China man is very present at the Lang'ata road site.

Treasury signs Sh25bn loan for new highway
Business Daily (http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Treasury+signs+Sh25bn+loan+for+new+highway/-/539546/1518492/-/2yuupwz/-/index.html)
26 September 2012

http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/image/view/-/1518546/medRes/403478/-/maxw/600/-/550b5n/-/nutrip.jpg
Finance minister Robinson Githae (right) with World Bank country director Johannes Zutt (left) during the signing of the National Urban Transport Improvement Project at Treasury on September 26, 2012. Looking on is Treasury's External Resources department director Jackson Kinyanjui (centre).
In Summary

In co-sponsoring the project, the Treasury is to put in Sh5.1 billion ($60 million) or 20 per cent of the World Bank’s loan.
The construction is supposed to start as soon as the World Bank disburses the funds since the project is behind schedule by five years.
NUTRIP is supposed to decongest traffic on the Northern Corridor passing through Nairobi. It will also facilitate regional and international trade and improve road access to JKIA.

Reconstruction of the 50-kilometre JKIA-Rironi highway to include an overpass on Uhuru Highway inched closer to commencement Wednesday when the Treasury signed a Sh25.5 billion ($300 million) loan with the World Bank.

In co-sponsoring the project, the Treasury is to put in Sh5.1 billion ($60 million) or 20 per cent of the World Bank’s loan.

The Treasury’s contribution had been a major point of debate before an agreement was reached on the exact amount, Finance minister Njeru Githae said after signing the loan documents.

Donors normally require that governments provide their contributions — called counterpart funds — into such projects.

The Bretton Woods institution gave the loan at an annual interest rate of 0.75 per cent, a repayment period of 30 years and a 10-year grace period.

The construction is supposed to start as soon as the World Bank disburses the funds since the project is behind schedule by five years.

The loan will fund part of the National Urban Transport Improvement Project (NUTRIP) expected to also cover two other urban areas including Kisumu and Meru.

Mr Githae said that about 30 per cent of Kenyans were living in urban areas last year.

By 2030, the Kenyan population will have reached 61 million and about half of that will be living in urban areas, he said.

“To ensure quality service to urban dwellers the government intends to make more investments to address the challenges that come with rapid urbanisation,” said Mr Githae.

NUTRIP is supposed to decongest traffic on the Northern Corridor passing through Nairobi. It will also facilitate regional and international trade and improve road access to JKIA.

Mr Githae said that feasibility studies had been concluded on transport corridors.

The funds will also help in institutional and capacity building for the transport sector, which will involve harmonising operations of the various road and rail authorities.

Road minister Franklin Bett said he hoped to see the commissioning of the construction before the General Election.

I think its best to merge this with the Bypass toll project thread, under this new heading of course.

Our second superhighway on course, it only gets better

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vv2cvGMmwOc

:banana:

Vv2cvGMmwOc

Really? I don't think so. I could be wrong but from what i've seen, China man is very present at the Lang'ata road site.

The donkey work has been done by Aswa Developers who are still on site.

The donkey work has been done by Aswa Developers who are still on site.

Aaah! you mean the KYMs. I get you.

http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Corporate+News/Bett+rules+out+demolitions+ahead+of+link+road+project/-/539550/1523562/-/tomy88/-/index.html

A blog entry (http://eaers.blogspot.com/2012/10/is-nairobis-double-decker-road.html) states that there are questions about the sustainability of the proposed Uhuru Highway double-decker road.

A blog entry (http://eaers.blogspot.com/2012/10/is-nairobis-double-decker-road.html) states that there are questions about the sustainability of the proposed Uhuru Highway double-decker road.

the critique is a little bit too shallow for me but i see what the author was trying to say

A blog entry (http://eaers.blogspot.com/2012/10/is-nairobis-double-decker-road.html) states that there are questions about the sustainability of the proposed Uhuru Highway double-decker road.


What do you mean sustainability. How can a road be sustainable? development finance concepts support this road project by all standards. I am wondering what anybody would introduce sustainability in this kind of project for. Once it is put there, we maintain it. Ask the Ethiopians how sustainable their double decker roads are sustainable and they will tell you they have no plans on that except how to keep it in good shape always. Anybody talking about sustainability does not know what they are talking about. In fact that is not the reason the world bank pulled out of it and feasibility studies have been done on the project. don't we have feasibility reports on this project that those claiming sustainability.

^^If the Uhuru Highway double-decker road is finished, it will be an attempt to alleviate traffic congestion.

What do you mean sustainability. How can a road be sustainable? development finance concepts support this road project by all standards. I am wondering what anybody would introduce sustainability in this kind of project for. Once it is put there, we maintain it. Ask the Ethiopians how sustainable their double decker roads are sustainable and they will tell you they have no plans on that except how to keep it in good shape always. Anybody talking about sustainability does not know what they are talking about. In fact that is not the reason the world bank pulled out of it and feasibility studies have been done on the project. don't we have feasibility reports on this project that those claiming sustainability.

I hear u man.

Btw do u have a link to the Ethiopian double Decker road. I am too lazy to search for it. LOL!!!

Delete post.

Here is the renders for the Nutrip Project

http://i.imgur.com/0mCea.jpg

Dp

Wow! Fuck Ngilu for thinking this project is a waste of cash!
awesome :cheers:

Here is the renders for the Nutrip Project

http://i.imgur.com/0mCea.jpg

Where is that? They drive on the right not Kenya right? So the road seems to be hanging up there?

Where is that? They drive on the right not Kenya right? So the road seems to be hanging up there?

Its a render for the planned NUTRIP which will involve an elevated high crossing the CBD....

Where is that? They drive on the right not Kenya right? So the road seems to be hanging up there?

Hawk eye, thanks i hadn't even noted.

Awesome.:cheers: One question though where is the rail going to go? The red lanes are obviously for buses but rail (which I read would be included in the project)?

Awesome.:cheers: One question though where is the rail going to go? The red lanes are obviously for buses but rail (which I read would be included in the project)?

Here is some more information from UNEP
http://www.unep.org/transport/pcfv/PDF/icct_2012/NairobiExample_MichaelNjonge_KURA.pdf

:cheers::cheers: Lovely

:cheers::cheers: Lovely


Some positive news, the tender has finally been floated. I have no idea of this project's timelines though.

Here is the news: http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Agency-floats-tenders-for-Sh25bn-city-highway/-/539546/1652740/-/lxe7k2/-/index.html

Who has seen the design of this project? I wonder how two lanes will be fitted on each side from the Museum Hill Interchange which journalists are still calling Museum Hill Roundabout just like in this article(we have some careless or outdated journalists who care the least about facts, some still call Unit 4 at JKIA terminal 4). That interchange was just done and I see no space to fit 4 lanes there, may be onward after the interchange but should the road not be widest in the city. From JKIA to Nyayo, great very possible but should they not also add lanes along Uhuru Highway past parliament? I wonder why not according to the tender at least.

I also think that the govt. should plan on building elevated roads around the extended business district, somewhere in Westlands, somewhere in Karriokor and somewhere along Bunyala road and have then all connected in a way. And then connect the other ones like they are doing with southern, northern, eastern bypasses.

http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/image/view/-/1652748/medRes/441985/-/maxw/600/-/cwp81n/-/highway.jpg

Wow! Fuck Ngilu for thinking this project is a waste of cash!
awesome :cheers:
Sorry but this is a highly ignorant coment. I might not be a supporter of Ngilu but insulting someone/ a woman because of her views shows just how ignorant someone is. I would tell you in your face.

Do you mean if a woman says a stupid thing she shouldnt be told in her face just becoz she's a woman. Anyone man or woman should be told whats true...but i too have a feeling that this project will creat a feeling of congestion especially around the CBD.

but i too have a feeling that this project will creat a feeling of congestion especially around the CBD.

This project has the advantage that there's a green belt of parks, golf course and playgrounds next to the entire length of the overpass. That will minimise the ''congested'' feeling as compared to if it was to pass through a completely built up area. We should thank Wangari Maathai. ;)

Praying that politics doesn't hamper with this project, it would have come to fruitation before Thika superhighway and they are putting the timelines too close to the election for my liking.

*Construction of additional two (2) lanes on either side from Museum Hill Roundabout to Uthiru (approx.) 12km).
Will the Kangemi and Uthiru flyovers be redesigned or redone?

Praying that politics doesn't hamper with this project, it would have come to fruitation before Thika superhighway and they are putting the timelines too close to the election for my liking.


Will the Kangemi and Uthiru flyovers be redesigned or redone?

I think it will be done, these guys are quite serious and never affected by politics. That is what i like about the agencies.

One of the key milestones will be the re-engineering of Uhuru Highway, which is a major pathway bisecting the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD). The Uhuru Highway will have a new 12km elevated road stretching from the Likoni Road Junction near the Ole Sereni Hotel all the way to James Gichuru Junction off Waiyaki Way in Westlands.

A proposed overpass on Mombasa road with a diamond-type ramp on the South ‘B’ Estate is also in the works at the Junction of Kapiti/Popo roads in South ‘C’ and South ‘B’ estates.

An overpass will also be built from Langata Road to link with Lusaka Road in Industrial Area. This diamond-type ramp has been suggested to reduce land acquisition in the neighbouring estates. A quarter link road behind the South ‘C’ estate from Mombasa road is also in the works.

“Motorists from the airport will use the existing road, driving past what is now the roundabout and head towards the city centre,” Asoka Prasantha, an engineering consultant involved in the project, says. The designs of the elevated highway whose construction is set to begin in January 2013, have already been unveiled. The upgrading of the Uhuru Highway is part of a wider plan to enhance the country’s mass rapid transport systems and give Nairobi and Kenya’s major towns regional advantages and competitiveness. According to plans released by Otieno Odongo Engineering Consultants, the road’s design specialists, the new look Uhuru Highway will see the well-known roundabouts at the Nyayo Stadium and Westlands – infamous for congestion – being phased out.

The flyover linking Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC) with South C Estate will be retained but restoration works on the asphalt and pavements and will be carried out. At the Haile Selassie roundabout, an elevated roadway viaduct will be constructed and will go all the way past the University Way Roundabout. This essentially means that Haile Selassie Avenue, Kenyatta Avenue and University Way will all pass under the raised roadway-viaduct.

The once-notorious Museum Hill Roundabout has already been re-engineered into the Museum Hill Interchange courtesy of the completed Thika Superhighway Improvement Project. NUTRIP now proposes a bridge over the Westlands roundabout, elimination of U-turns at Riverside Drive and access roads to Parklands. It is instructive to note that this 12km stretch of the road is a key backbone of the Northern Corridor connecting Mombasa port to the regional neighbour nations of Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, Burundi and Eastern DRC.

In a move to reassure property owners along the highway, Meshack Kidenda, the Director General of KeNHA, says the engineering design of the project proposes restriction to the roads and discourages the demolition of existing private property on the roads. “We have property owners who may be affected by the project, but we are restricting ourselves to the current road reserves which are available on the 12km stretch. No property owner should be worried,” Kidenda says.

I thought the viaduct would start from Nyayo stadium roundabout, seems it will not be long. (http://www.africanbusinessmagazine.com/features/infrastructure/nairobi-breaks-traffic-shackles)

I thought the viaduct would start from Nyayo stadium roundabout, seems it will not be long. (http://www.africanbusinessmagazine.com/features/infrastructure/nairobi-breaks-traffic-shackles)

Most likely, the viaduct will start from where Uhuru highway goes over the railway line near Haile Selassie. The highway is already elevated at that point so it will continue past the CBD as a viaduct while extra lanes fork out on the sides to accomodate those heading towards the CBD avenues.

Most likely, the viaduct will start from where Uhuru highway goes over the railway line near Haile Selassie. The highway is already elevated at that point so it will continue past the CBD as a viaduct while extra lanes fork out on the sides to accomodate those heading towards the CBD avenues.

Just doing away with the roundabouts or circles as some call them and replacing them with interchanges is good enough but a longer elevated road would be better.

Most likely, the viaduct will start from where Uhuru highway goes over the railway line near Haile Selassie. The highway is already elevated at that point so it will continue past the CBD as a viaduct while extra lanes fork out on the sides to accomodate those heading towards the CBD avenues.

More like it though the are saying 12km of elevated road, lazy journalism.

Uhuru Highway Set For A Complete Makeover

http://i.imgur.com/rOnWq.jpg

Uhuru Highway in Nairobi is set for a major makeover even as the government continues to receive bids for the design and construction of the planned 53-kilometre Jomo Kenyatta International Airport -Rironi thoroughfare.

A preliminary artistic impression seen by the Business Daily captures the makeover expected to ease congestion in the city and its environs.

The section between Nyayo National Stadium and the Museum Hill interchange would have an elevated road with two lanes on each side.

The stretch would also have additional special lanes to accommodate a special bus rapid transport system (BRT) that will run from JKIA to Kikuyu on the outskirts of the city.

The BRT route will be a single carriageway and will run in the middle section of the highway from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to Kikuyu.

Full story read below :-

SOURCE http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Uhuru-Highway-set-for-a-complete-makeover/-/539546/1662886/-/item/0/-/uypow0z/-/index.html

I love it. can't wait for construction to start

I like these parts on the article ....... Finally the matatu madness will end :banana::banana::banana:

The blueprint showed the road network would be serviced by an exclusive closed rapid bus system complete with special feeder services. The special bus routes would run alongside the normal highways except within the Central Business District (CBD) where it would be elevated.

An estimated 378 buses would be required to operate this exclusive route service by 2015 with fares estimated at between Sh2 and Sh2.50 per passenger per kilometre.

The consultants, Consult Engineering Services of India and its Kenyan partner APEC Limited, said the project may require some highways upgraded to between four and eight lane dual carriage with exclusive lanes for the rapid transport bus system.

:cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

hope the buses will be nice modern machines and nit the ugly kbs and cittihoppa buses of today's nairobi...

I went to the website of the NUTRIP consultants i.e Consult Engineering Services of India and they seem to be undertaking serious projects including the Delhi Metro, Some elevated highway in India and some serious bridges in Bangladesh :cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers: Below is a link to their site :-


http://www.cesinter.com/

Uhuru Highway Set For A Complete Makeover

http://i.imgur.com/rOnWq.jpg

Uhuru Highway in Nairobi is set for a major makeover even as the government continues to receive bids for the design and construction of the planned 53-kilometre Jomo Kenyatta International Airport -Rironi thoroughfare.

A preliminary artistic impression seen by the Business Daily captures the makeover expected to ease congestion in the city and its environs.

The section between Nyayo National Stadium and the Museum Hill interchange would have an elevated road with two lanes on each side.

The stretch would also have additional special lanes to accommodate a special bus rapid transport system (BRT) that will run from JKIA to Kikuyu on the outskirts of the city.

The BRT route will be a single carriageway and will run in the middle section of the highway from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to Kikuyu.

Full story read below :-

SOURCE http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Uhuru-Highway-set-for-a-complete-makeover/-/539546/1662886/-/item/0/-/uypow0z/-/index.html^^this forum been busy today and this project tops all today.the 24 floor complex at the KR station will transform that secton of the city...those old stations from 1900s we saw today should be demolished like right away...pliz post the whole masterplan/blueprints if u have them:banana::banana:

^^the 24 floor complex at the KR station will transform that secton of the city...those old stations from 1900s we saw today should be demolished like right away...

When I lived in Kenya I dreaded going those sides of K.R. coz the area was so dusty na makauzi in every corner. Once the building is put up and a little love and sprucing applied ..... the potential is enormous.

Guys what 24floor tower are you guys talking about???

Guys what 24floor tower are you guys talking about???

The present Nairobi Railway Station area, including the yards, has been proposed for the construction of a 24-storey central hub terminal for the MRTS in that all lines would originate or terminate at this point or traverse through it.
From the article

There is a vacancy here (http://www.unhabitat.org/content.asp?cid=11811&catid=435&typeid=12) at UN-HABITAT concerning Nairobi BRT, i wonder if its a different project and if its not how does UN-HABITAT come in?

This is the final resettlement plan for the A104 JKIA-Rironi highway (pdf file): http://www.kenha.co.ke/downloads/RAP/Nutrip_RAP.pdf

i am really loving the progress on this project.A BRT and commuter rail are what will sound the death knell to the menace of matatus.

i am really loving the progress on this project.A BRT and commuter rail are what will sound the death knell to the menace of matatus.

And not to add the Light Rail Project that will start construction in 2014 or 2015 which will be the final nail...


.
From the article

I completely looked over that lol. Have any renders of the towers been released?? or who will be the contractors

Here are some more realistic renders

http://i.imgur.com/SOOOD.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/jutyo.jpg

:banana::banana::banana::cheers::cheers::cheers:

^^ Looks awesome :cheers::banana:

Here are some more realistic renders

http://i.imgur.com/SOOOD.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/jutyo.jpg

:banana::banana::banana::cheers::cheers::cheers:^^:applause::applause::applause:thats just amazing...some of you guyz here seem to have some insider access...one more hurdle (elections)and KE will explode.

double post deleted

Here are some more realistic renders

http://i.imgur.com/SOOOD.jpg


:banana::banana::banana::cheers::cheers::cheers:

God gracious, could not be any better. Is there a rail track at the extreme left?

God gracious, could not be any better. Is there a rail track at the extreme left?

Could be the light rail line???

I like it too but it looks like you'd need to add a few footbridges.

Politicians must have structured a cash cow here (http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Corporate-News/Firm-in-failed-Sh67bn-Uhuru-Highway-upgrade-winds-up/-/539550/1664626/-/kts4q5z/-/index.html) but i am glad they failed .

Politicians must have structured a cash cow here (http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Corporate-News/Firm-in-failed-Sh67bn-Uhuru-Highway-upgrade-winds-up/-/539550/1664626/-/kts4q5z/-/index.html) but i am glad they failed .

The cow died before it could be milked I guess. There is always a silver lining even in the darkest of clouds!

Politicians must have structured a cash cow here (http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Corporate-News/Firm-in-failed-Sh67bn-Uhuru-Highway-upgrade-winds-up/-/539550/1664626/-/kts4q5z/-/index.html) but i am glad they failed .

+1 :bash:

I like it too but it looks like you'd need to add a few footbridges.

I would also add bicycle lanes.

People living in places like South B, South C, Nairobi West, Weslands, Ngara, Muthurwa e.t.c should just cycle into town (weather permitting).

I would also be interested in seeing how the intersections will be re-designed, especially Uhuru hwy/Langata rd, Uhuru hwy/Haileselassie, Uhuru Hwy/University way.

I would also add bicycle lanes.

People living in places like South B, South C, Nairobi West, Weslands, Ngara, Muthurwa e.t.c should just cycle into town (weather permitting).

I would also be interested in seeing how the intersections will be re-designed, especially Uhuru hwy/Langata rd, Uhuru hwy/Haileselassie, Uhuru Hwy/University way.

True, back in the days I used to walk to town from N. West.

I like it too but it looks like you'd need to add a few footbridges.

Enough with the foot bridges, lets do some underground passages...."I know cost" but before Thika road, we could never have thought of the financing of such a big project but when you plan it it may happen.

^^this forum been busy today and this project tops all today.the 24 floor complex at the KR station will transform that secton of the city...those old stations from 1900s we saw today should be demolished like right away...pliz post the whole masterplan/blueprints if u have them:banana::banana:

Do we know if the tracks/platforms will be on one level only or on multiple levels.

KNHA have confirmed that this project will start in April: http://www.nation.co.ke/business/news/Key-city-road-projects-set-to-begin-says-top-official/-/1006/1689548/-/2dd0s5z/-/index.html

KNHA have confirmed that this project will start in April: http://www.nation.co.ke/business/news/Key-city-road-projects-set-to-begin-says-top-official/-/1006/1689548/-/2dd0s5z/-/index.html

Knowing how they messed us b4 i will celebrate when i see graders on site. Meanwhile that article is too general and in some places non factual, for constructions beginning this month and april they should have at least probed for contractors names. Marsabit to moyale even if i have not gone there is in no way complete, turbi moyale section is barely even six months on.

Anybody back home witness any activity on this project ??? We are half-way through the month of April !!!How about we spend the 6-10 billion that had been set aside for run-offs on this project ???

Anybody back home witness any activity on this project ??? We are half-way through the month of April !!!How about we spend the 6-10 billion that had been set aside for run-offs on this project ???

Tell that to the millions of youth anxiously waiting for this run-off Kitty but have a better escape plan for your life as you do it at your own risk.

Anybody back home witness any activity on this project ??? We are half-way through the month of April !!!How about we spend the 6-10 billion that had been set aside for run-offs on this project ???

What the guy in the photo is was doing two weeks ago must be related to the project but its too insignificant to count

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8383/8642304195_6dd2128daf_b.jpg

meanwhile todays visibility was just not there

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8256/8643406130_3c99490d8b_b.jpg

Anybody back home witness any activity on this project ??? We are half-way through the month of April !!!How about we spend the 6-10 billion that had been set aside for run-offs on this project ???

Pole, that kshs. 6 billion was sent to the youth fund by UK during his inauguration speech.

Pole, that kshs. 6 billion was sent to the youth fund by UK during his inauguration speech.

Are you sure about this? It sounds quite suspicious.

Are you sure about this? It sounds quite suspicious.

I heard that in his 100 days in office promises along with abolition of maternity fees in public hospitals and getting money for next year's laptops to be included in the budget

I heard that in his 100 days in office promises along with abolition of maternity fees in public hospitals and getting money for next year's laptops to be included in the budget

Can you please structure your sentence properly I can't make heads or tails of what you are trying to say. I think his term is more than 100 days. Are you saying that he has promised to abolish maternity fees in the next 100 days, and to buy laptops in next years budget? I don't get it.

Can you please structure your sentence properly I can't make heads or tails of what you are trying to say. I think his term is more than 100 days. Are you saying that he has promised to abolish maternity fees in the next 100 days, and to buy laptops in next years budget? I don't get it.

:lol:HAHAHA u crack me up!! baada ya kusoma mara kadha wa kadha mimi nimeelewa hivi:

UK has made promises he in his first 100 days in office, in addition to these promises, he will abolish maternity fees and will include /= for next years laptops.

If I got it wrong then someone else rectify me as well :)

An artistic render of the project

http://i.imgur.com/dl0ebNm.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/ooksP14.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/u5MR9Nz.jpg

http://buildesign.co.ke/what-if-nairobi-the-elevated-uhuru-highway/

^^
I'd go for the initial design.

I don't like the idea of highways cutting through cities... virtually splitting them.

Not a fan.

I like it!:cheers: If the surrounding area can be regularly maintenanced it should still look nice despite the noise factor (although large cities are noisy regardless). :yes: Even then if it were too loud in some areas sound barriers could be put in.

Here's a lesson from Seoul, South Korea.

They built a raised highway in the 1970s that ripped through the centre of Seoul. See how it split the city, blocking real pedestrian activity, looking aesthetically bad:

http://www.preservenet.com/freeways/Seoul_BeforeDongdaemunArea.jpg

That model of development is outdated. They removed the flyover and landscaped the land. Dramatic improvement, how it looks now:

http://www.okeanosgroup.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/chinariver-ed01.jpg

http://www.okeanosgroup.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Seoul-River-Park.jpg

The difference:

http://www.streetsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2006/12_4-10/seoul_highway_teardown.jpg

Here's a lesson from San Francisco, USA.

Post war, the USA built a lot of freeways, including the Embarcadero Freeway in San Francisco. This raised freeway, like most that pass through cities, was an eyesore. This was the Embarcadero:

http://farm1.staticflickr.com/26/91322576_eff11aea33.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/telstar/91322576/)
The Dark Days: The Embarcadero in the 1980s (http://www.flickr.com/photos/telstar/91322576/) by Telstar Logistics (http://www.flickr.com/people/telstar/), on Flickr

This model of urban development is outdated. They ripped out the highway:

http://www.preservenet.com/freeways/EmbarcaderoBefore2.jpg

Re-uniting the urban landscape:

http://www.preservenet.com/freeways/EmbarcaderoAfter2.jpg



This is the Embarcadero flyover passing right in front of the Ferry building in San Francisco.... in the same way that the A104 flyover will pass in front of the Parliament Building in Nairobi:

http://www.preservenet.com/freeways/EmbarcaderoBefore1.jpg

This is after they removed it:

http://www.preservenet.com/freeways/EmbarcaderoAfter1.jpg

Something similar happened here in Boston Massachusetts

Something similar happened here in Boston Massachusetts

Yurp i know what you're talking about

Here's a lesson from San Francisco, USA.

Post war, the USA built a lot of freeways, including the Embarcadero Freeway in San Francisco. This raised freeway, like most that pass through cities, was an eyesore. This was the Embarcadero:

http://farm1.staticflickr.com/26/91322576_eff11aea33.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/telstar/91322576/)
The Dark Days: The Embarcadero in the 1980s (http://www.flickr.com/photos/telstar/91322576/) by Telstar Logistics (http://www.flickr.com/people/telstar/), on Flickr

This model of urban development is outdated. They ripped out the highway:

http://www.preservenet.com/freeways/EmbarcaderoBefore2.jpg

Re-uniting the urban landscape:

http://www.preservenet.com/freeways/EmbarcaderoAfter2.jpg



This is the Embarcadero flyover passing right in front of the Ferry building in San Francisco.... in the same way that the A104 flyover will pass in front of the Parliament Building in Nairobi:

http://www.preservenet.com/freeways/EmbarcaderoBefore1.jpg

This is after they removed it:

http://www.preservenet.com/freeways/EmbarcaderoAfter1.jpg

Why were those highways built in the first place? Answer> So they could support economic growth and development in a country that was needing it. Kenya needs this highway yesterday. It needs a lot of highways, regardless of if it makes some peoples eyes "sore". Once Kenya is rich like the united states or Britain, then the highways can be demolished in favor of public parks or whatever. But until then, fuck asthetics and beauty and nature conservation and all of that, we will worry about it when we can afford to i.e from our suburban houses with backyard swimmingpools, and big black SUVs parked outside. Then we can go> Oh that highway over there doesnt look very nice, lets demolish it and have a picnic.

I don't like the idea of highways cutting through cities... virtually splitting them.

Not a fan.

Depends on the design and quality of the highway. Check out these Japanese things.
http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/2165/a37a2d56e214c6452c84a02.jpg
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/6562/5911f2862022a4ddc4d52ce.jpg
http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/7753/umedaexitikedaroutehans.jpg
They call it Umeda exit through Gate tower.

Why were those highways built in the first place? Answer> So they could support economic growth and development in a country that was needing it. Kenya needs this highway yesterday. It needs a lot of highways, regardless of if it makes some peoples eyes "sore". Once Kenya is rich like the united states or Britain, then the highways can be demolished in favor of public parks or whatever. But until then, fuck asthetics and beauty and nature conservation and all of that, we will worry about it when we can afford to i.e from our suburban houses with backyard swimmingpools, and big black SUVs parked outside. Then we can go> Oh that highway over there doesnt look very nice, lets demolish it and have a picnic.

That's entirely the wrong outlook to take regarding urban development.

Those wrongs cost a lot of money, time and disruption to put right. It's not a case of "let's build now and demolish later", it's a case of "let's build right the first time".

There are many places that developed in the right way and did not have to undertake these costly backtracks.

Depends on the design and quality of the highway. Check out these Japanese things.

They call it Umeda exit through Gate tower.

Very innovative and apt for a somewhat industrial area like Fukushima-ku.

It's no coincidence that Osaka is known as the ugliest city in Japan.

That's entirely the wrong outlook to take regarding urban development.

Those wrongs cost a lot of money, time and disruption to put right. It's not a case of "let's build now and demolish later", it's a case of "let's build right the first time".

There are many places that developed in the right way and did not have to undertake these costly backtracks.

+1000

Kenya needs the right development model. Sustainable development is the country's best bet. The country should learn from the mistakes made in other countries and work to create a clean, conducive and healthy environment Kenyans.

This overpass will do very little to improve the living conditions within the city.

Depends on the design and quality of the highway. Check out these Japanese things.

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/6562/5911f2862022a4ddc4d52ce.jpg

They call it Umeda exit through Gate tower.

Very impressive.

+1000

Kenya needs the right development model. Sustainable development is the country's best bet. The country should learn from the mistakes made in other country's and work to creat a clean, conducive and healthy environment Kenyans.

This overpass will do very little to improve the living conditions in the city.

Indeed.

What standard are we aspiring to for our political and financial capital?

- The standard of Houston and Atlanta: cities that put cars before people in terms of design.

- or cities like New York, London, Paris, Hong Kong, Singapore (etc): cities that put people and public transport first.


I'd react the same way if New York decided to build a flyover between Midtown and Central Park.

Damn you auto correct.

Surprised you actually got what I was saying!!^^

Indeed.

What standard are we aspiring to for our political and financial capital?

- The standard of Houston and Atlanta: cities that put cars before people in terms of design.

- or cities like New York, London, Paris, Hong Kong, Singapore (etc): cities that put people and public transport first.


I'd react the same way if New York decided to build a flyover between Midtown and Central Park.

But isn't it a confluence of both characteristics that will go into building the overpass.

We can Houston overpasses working together with people and public transportation systems of new york

The render that Adama posted looked fine. There was greenery around, public transportation and the highway didn't look too bad. The original design is ugly.:lol:

If expansion of the highway is absolutely necessary, and there aren't other options to offload traffic onto (which is why the highway over Chunggyecheon in Seoul, and other cities were able to be removed--they wouldn't be needed any longer) then aesthetics will just have to take a back seat.

But isn't it a confluence of both characteristics that will go into building the overpass.

We can Houston overpasses working together with people and public transportation systems of new york

Houston's overpasses create a chasm in the centre of the city, a physical barrier, a pedestrian barrier, a visual one. The city is often cited as the worst form of urban planning. Provision for public transport or not, they are wholly inappropriate for the area in which it is meant to serve.

No city with the urban realm at heart would propose such a thing through the heart of the city in 2013.

The render that Adama posted looked fine. There was greenery around, public transportation and the highway didn't look too bad. The original design is ugly.:lol:

If expansion of the highway is absolutely necessary, and there aren't other options to offload traffic onto (which is why the highway over Chunggyecheon in Seoul, and other cities were able to be removed--they wouldn't be needed any longer) then aesthetics will just have to take a back seat.

It is not just about aesthetics! One has to look at the newly constructed poster and graffiti covered overpasses that have become the official residence for the city's street urchins. Walking by the museum hill interchange has quickly become a high risk activity with its armies of street urchins raring to have a go at unsuspecting pedestrians.

Further on in the Gethurai area, the overpass has been reduced to dumping grounds teaming with hawkers who are hell bent on selling their wares. At night the poorly lit barriers host the cities muggers and it will be disastrous to create a new habitat for the aforementioned groups smack in the middle of the city.

Air Quality
I am certain I am not the only one that nose bleeds after inhaling fumes, dust and pollutants in the air. The air quality in Nairobi city is horrible! The last thing Nairobians need is more traffic cutting through the city. The respiratory health and general well being of the people is of paramount importance.

I realize that the thought of having the longest overpass in Africa is tantalizing but at what cost! This is an old model that has been abandoned by those who pioneered it!

Kenya should not repeat the same mistakes made by other countries in the 1950s. We need livable cities that are sustainable and pedestrian friendly!

LAGOS

http://www.papaplatform.com/admin/images/L/5272.jpg

^^
I couldn't agree more. So much for the conservationists complaining that expanding the road width wise would encroach on Uhuru Park. Uhuru park is nothing but an extension of muliro garden and a gangsters hideout. I have always said, the perennial gridlock witnessed on Uhuru highway is because of those archaic roundabouts !!! Get rid of those circles and traffic will flow smoothly. In addition, with southern bypass set for completion in 2015 all the heavy commercial traffic will be rerouted southwards hence reducing traffic flow to manageable levels on A109. Aesthetics takes precedence over anything else !!!

^^
I couldn't agree more. So much for the conservationists complaining that expanding the road width wise would encroach on Uhuru Park. Uhuru park is nothing but an extension of muliro garden and a gangsters hideout. I have always said, the perennial gridlock witnessed on Uhuru highway is because of those archaic roundabouts !!! Get rid of those circles and traffic will flow smoothly. In addition, with southern bypass set for completion in 2015 all the heavy commercial traffic will be rerouted southwards hence reducing traffic flow to manageable levels on A109. Aesthetics takes precedence over anything else !!!

So what are the long-term alternatives to this problem? I think that functionality is superior to aesthetics, after functionality (reduce traffic congestion) then we think of aesthetic ways of doing so. We currently have beautiful Uhuru park full of trees, but vehicles stuck in traffic are churning out more c02 than the Uhuru park trees can even absorb. So we need vehicles to move quickly, pollute less and economy to grow. And with growth more vehicles will come, just removing round abouts will not solve the problem. Look at Thika road. Do we still get stuck even with "expressways"? Yes! And so I believe long-term solution lies in accurate forecasting of demand for roads by users, planning and building roads in anticipation. We have realized that we have the capacity to build bigger roads so why not do it right in time!!

I am with you on this one. We have learned over the years how well (or not) these elevated highways work: decades of experience to learn how to design them to take into account the short comings of past designs. It's unfair to dismiss them outright as an alternative yet there are many instances where they have worked perfectly well and are aesthetically pleasing. Here is an example.

http://www.texasfreeway.com/austin/photos/183/images/183_elevated_D_17-oct-2001_lres.jpg

http://thei81challenge.org/cm/ResourceFiles/resources/Austin.pdf

So what are the long-term alternatives to this problem? I think that functionality is superior to aesthetics, after functionality (reduce traffic congestion) then we think of aesthetic ways of doing so. We currently have beautiful Uhuru park full of trees, but vehicles stuck in traffic are churning out more c02 than the Uhuru park trees can even absorb. So we need vehicles to move quickly, pollute less and economy to grow. And with growth more vehicles will come, just removing round abouts will not solve the problem. Look at Thika road. Do we still get stuck even with "expressways"? Yes! And so I believe long-term solution lies in accurate forecasting of demand for roads by users, planning and building roads in anticipation. We have realized that we have the capacity to build bigger roads so why not do it right in time!!

Tallglassy you gave an image of a bridge in Lagos(when the city has multiple) to prove your point?:? They've been built in numerous other cities across the world, and haven't ruined (so to say) the surrounding urban environment. :yes: I'm not saying they've enhanced it either, but it isn't like cities let a single highway cutting through a certain area of the city diminish their development of green/open-space areas, or pedestrian-oriented transportation.

Besides, if it is built perhaps the outcome will be the exact opposite of what your worse fears are. ;)

I will say though highways in cities anywhere isn't exactly charming, but as said in my earlier reply if it's needed what else can you do about it?:dunno:

1. Is the portion of the JKIA-Rironi Road west of the Westlands Roundabout going to be grade-separated or is that impossible?
2. The elevated road above Unuru Highway is for traffic on the highway that is intended to bypass Nairobi's CBD.

1. Is the portion of the JKIA-Rironi Road west of the Westlands Roundabout going to be grade-separated or is that impossible?
.

It already is grade separated other than the ABC PLACE.