The Mombasa county government has identified an alternative area for the construction of a second bridge to link the island to the north mainland.
Transport executive secretary Mohamed Abbas said a shorter and more economical bridge may be built along the Tudor Creek and will connect Tudor Nora area to Mshomoroni.
“We have identified an area next to the Technical University of Mombasa. This area will need a bridge that is shorter than the current Nyali Bridge or the Old Nyali bridge, which is also still under consideration,” said Abbas.
Speaking while assuming his temporary office at the former Public Works ministry offices at Shimanzi, Abbas said the new bridge would be shorter.
The current Nyali Bridge is 400 metres long. The new bridge would link Mombasa mainland west in Changamwe constituency, through part of the island in Mvita constituency and into Mombasa mainland north through Kisauni constituency. Vehicles from mainland west not necessarily passing through the CBD.
“If it comes to fruition, vehicles will, upon reaching the Makupa roundabout, take the road leading to TUM and follow the bridge into Mshomoroni from where they can go to Malindi. This will significantly decongest Mombasa,” said Abbas.
A feasibility study for the new alternative bridge will soon be done.
The executive secretary said the construction of another bridge to replace the old floating Nyali bridge has been considered and dismissed as it would cost both the county and national governments billions of shillings to compensate developers who have put up hotels, marina and houses.
Abbas said the proposed bridge is part of the Sh1.6 billion roads upgrade project which has been partially funded by the World Bank. The project also includes the expansion of several roads such as the Karisa Maitha road in Kisauni.
The roads projects also involves the construction of a storm water drainage system, street lighting, and expansion of some crucial links including the Nyali Bridge.
“The expansion of the Nyali Bridge means encroaching on the Kengeleni area which is a national heritage. That is the challenge we have in expanding the Nyali Bridge,” Abbas said.
Kengeleni is the original church built by freed slaves in 1886. The bell was used to warn people if slave traders were spotted.
Under the World Bank project, some major roads will see pavements and those in the middle of the roads reduced to widen them to accommodate the growing number of vehicles.
Abbas also said a feasibility study report on the Mombasa county commuter rail transport will be out next month. The study is being conducted by a Swedish firm.
Speaking at a Kenya Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union Kericho branch capacity building forum being held in Mombasa, Cotu boss Francis Atwoli said a second bridge must be constructed.
He said the national government must work to ensure that cities like Nairobi and Mombasa were expanded if the country is to industrialise by 2030.
