A section of the Nairobi-Thika Superhighway. The African Development Bank has approved financing for the Outer Ring Road expansion project. FILE
What you need to know:
The AfDB board approved the loan, with a grant element of Sh425 million, last week.
The 13-kilometre Outer Ring Road project is expected to ease traffic congestion in the city.
The project will cost $130 million with the Kenyan government providing the balance.
The expansion of Outer Ring Road in Nairobi into a dual carriageway has moved closer to reality after the African Development Bank (AfDB) approved $120 million (Sh10.2 billion) for the project.
The AfDB board approved the loan, with a grant element of Sh425 million, last week offering hope to motorists that the traffic congestion on the link between Mombasa Road and the Thika Super Highway would soon ease.
“This road will reduce the travel time from the current 45 minutes to 15 minutes and transform the socio-economic welfare of the people living along the transport corridor,” AfDB regional director for eastern Africa Gabriel Negatu said.
The expansion is expected to remove traffic bottlenecks in Industrial Area, Eastlands and the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
This will be the second major road project to be funded by the institution after the 50 kilometre Nairobi-Thika Superhighway, that was jointly financed by the Republic of China and the Government of Kenya.
The 13-kilometre Outer Ring Road project will cost $130 million with the Kenyan government providing the balance.
The two-lane road will come with service roads, grade separated intersections, pedestrian overbridges, walkways and cycle lanes, which is aimed at reducing the high number of accidents involving pedestrians and cyclists.
The road that cuts across Nairobi’s East and North districts, serves an estimated population of 2.2 million, representing 70 per cent Nairobi City County residents.
The users of Nairobi-Thika highway, Eastern Bypass, Northern Bypass, Mombasa Road, heading to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) will also benefit from the project. Outer Ring Road also connects to Jogoo Road and the Thika Superhighway.
The reduced congestion will see property values and business environment improve with informal traders accessing new market facilities and improved sanitation.
The bank will also put up 250 market stalls and associated sanitary facilities, children’s traffic safety park, three Wellness centres for HIV/Aids and related illnesses and plant 4,500 trees as complementary civil works.
Mr Negatu said 500 youth from nearby informal settlements will gain from an artisan training programme, equipping them with skills for gainful employment thereafter.
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