Motorists headache over KeNHA closure of Southern Bypass

Motorists drive past a section the dented bridge on the Southern Bypass at the Ngong road bridge ahead of planned KeNHA's road closure of the Bypass to necessitate the rehabilitation and expansion of the joint structures along the Southern Bypass road. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

The five-day closure of Southern bypass in Nairobi is proving to be a challenge to motorists.

Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA)  closed the road from December 23 until January 5 from Ole Sereni Interchange to Ngong Road Interchange.

The authority said this was meant to allow the rehabilitation of the expansion joints of all the bridges along the affected section.

KeNHA added that it will also pave the way for the reconstruction of concrete pavement of the virtual weighbridge.

The road was meant for long distance trucks from Mombasa Road to avoid passing through the city centre.

But a spot check by The Standard indicated the diversion of the traffic, mostly the trucks, is proving to be a challenge on Lang’ata Road and Ngong Road, now acting as alternative routes.

On Christmas day, for instance, some roundabouts towards the city centre witnessed traffic jams owing to the increase in the number of trucks.

“Closing the bypass for more than three days is not good idea. There are ongoing works on some areas including Haile Selassie roundabout. That is why you will find traffic jams caused by long vehicles in almost all the roundabouts,” Musa Bai, a truck driver said.

Motorists and pedestrians have also raised concern about the ongoing expansion of a section of Mombasa Road between Airtel Kenya and General Motors, citing the slow pace of completion of a section of the highway by the contractor.