• The Expressway starts at Mlolongo and passes through the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Nairobi’s CBD ending at Westlands along Waiyaki Way.
• A number of city residents bashed Kenha for ‘damaging’ and abandoning sections of Mombasa Road, Waiyaki Way and Uhuru Highway.
Image: CHARLENE MALWA
The Kenya National Highways Authority has been put to task by the public to complete the original road affected by the construction of the Nairobi Expressway.
The public uproar comes after Kenha said that construction of the 27.1 km road nears completion.
“As the contractor nears completion, and in preparation for the eventual opening of the Road to the public, there will be guided trials to test the operations of the system that has been installed,” reads the notice
However, the public responded to the notice calling on upon the authority to complete sections of the old road that has been damaged as a result of the expressway construction.
A number of city residents bashed Kenha for ‘damaging’ and abandoning sections of Mombasa Road, Waiyaki Way and Uhuru Highway.
"When are you going to start on construction of the original road below? Especially in Westlands? Please let us know as soon as possible,” Titus Nyamori asked.
“What about the lower deck road? Itatengenezwa lini?” posed Charity Thumbi.
“It would be gracious enough and tell the nation when the road below will be fixed more so the inner most lanes on both sides,” Andrew Musyoka stated.
Clinton Muturi said, “You need to fix the roads below that you spoilt quite badly. Areas like Westlands around the mall and Mombasa road towards General Motors , you've clearly messed up the road badly.”
Edward Simuyu added, “Would it not be a good idea to divert the traffic up on the expressway so you work on fixing the road under faster? That could also cater for the trial runs.”
“What happens to the previous existing highway that is now left with port holes, is unmarked and is in a bad state? Will the contractor rehabilitate it? Is it part of the contract to make the express way or it will be left the way it is?" Emmanuel Musau asked.
Late last month, Transport CS James Macharia had updated that the construction of the Nairobi Expressway continued to make good progress with the completion status standing at 95 per cent .
The bulk of the work along the 27.1 km road, being the main infrastructure is said to be complete with focus shifted to ancillary infrastructure.
It was revealed that the game-changing project should be complete by end of March.
The Expressway starts at Mlolongo and passes through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Nairobi’s CBD ending at Westlands along Waiyaki Way.
The government will conduct test runs in April ahead of the commissioning of the expressway by President Uhuru Kenyatta .
Once complete, Nairobi Expressway will have a four-lane and six-lane dual carriageway within the existing median of Mombasa Road, Uhuru Highway, and Waiyaki Way as well as 10 interchanges.