[PHOTOS] Kenyatta Avenue viaduct construction takes shape

Construction of the much-anticipated Kenyatta Avenue viaduct in Nairobi is steadily taking shape as works continue on the major infrastructure project expected to ease traffic congestion between the Central Business District and Upper Hill.

The project, being implemented by the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), is designed to improve traffic flow along one of Nairobi’s busiest corridors by creating an elevated link between Valley Road and Kenyatta Avenue.

Photos taken on May 14, 2026 show sections of the viaduct under construction, with large metallic hoardings, heavy machinery and ongoing structural works dominating parts of Kenyatta Avenue.

The images also capture the scale of the project as workers continue with groundwork and installation works in the high-traffic area.

The ongoing construction follows months of online speculation after unusual structures erected along the road sparked jokes and memes from Kenyans, with some residents humorously referring to them as “roadside apartments”.

At the time, KURA clarified that the structures were not residential units but temporary protective barriers meant to shield motorists and pedestrians as construction progresses.

“Mnauliza nani anajenga nyumba Kenyatta Avenue? Aje sasa watu wangu? Tunajenga viaduct,” the agency said in a social media post in August 2025.

KURA engineer Benjamin Asin later explained that the barriers were necessary to create a safe working environment for heavy machinery operating within the busy corridor.

The viaduct is expected to allow through-traffic to bypass several intersections along the CBD-Upper Hill route, reducing delays caused by congestion and improving movement within the city.

Once complete, the project is also expected to complement ongoing road improvement programmes aimed at modernising Nairobi’s transport infrastructure and easing pressure on key urban roads.