Moja Expressway, the operator of the Nairobi Expressway, has addressed concerns over increased traffic on the road, built to ease congestion in Nairobi.
The explanation follows complaints from motorists on Monday morning about a traffic snarl-up on the expressway.
According to the company, the congestion was caused by the ongoing construction along Mombasa Road, which has led to an influx of vehicles onto the expressway.
“Due to ongoing construction on Mombasa Road (A8), there is a sudden influx of vehicles on the Nairobi Expressway. For your safety, motorists are advised to exercise caution and drive within the designated speed, especially at the entrances and exits. We apologize for any delays and thank you for your continued patience,” the company said in a statement.
The company reminded motorists that the designated speed limit is 80kph.
The expressway, designed to decongest key roads like Mombasa Road, Uhuru Highway, and Waiyaki Way, has faced intermittent traffic challenges since its opening.
Equipped with 11 tolling stations, 54 toll plazas, and 126 cameras, the expressway employs a smart monitoring system to detect congestion, vehicle reversals, emergencies, pedestrian crossings, and spillage. Recordings are made at 30-minute intervals to enhance monitoring.
The road features 11 interchanges at key locations, including Mlolongo, Standard Gauge Railway, JKIA, Eastern Bypass, Southern Bypass, Capital Centre, Haile Selassie Avenue, Museum Hill, Westlands, and James Gichuru Road.
The Nairobi Expressway spans 18.2 km at ground level and 8.9 km elevated. It is a Class A, four-lane dual carriageway with a design speed of 80kph.
As one of China’s flagship projects in Kenya under the Belt and Road Initiative, the expressway has significantly reduced travel time between Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and Nairobi CBD from two hours to approximately 20 minutes.
China Roads and Bridges Construction will operate and maintain the expressway for 30 years as part of a deal to recoup their investment.
