Nairobi Western Bypass set for construction after Chinese firm signs deal

The government has announced the start of construction works for the Nairobi Western Bypass aimed at reducing traffic congestion in the capital.

This marks the final journey to complete the much-awaited loop of ring roads initiated by the Kibaki administration to free Nairobi of traffic congestion.

The loop, comprising four bypasses around the city’s environs, is touted as an alternative transport route to ease the traffic load within the city.

On Thursday, the State said it had triggered the process of the construction of the last remaining bypass following the signing of an agreement between the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) and the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC).

CRBC, which is also the main contractor of the standard gauge railway project is expected to carry out feasibility studies and designs for the development of the road as a high capacity expressway paving the way for its construction.

“The Nairobi Western Bypass project will be implemented as an engineering, procurement and construction contract (EPC). The total EPC cost estimate is Sh17.3 billion and will be funded through a concessionary loan from the Government of China,” KeNHA said in a statement.

The proposed bypass has been identified as a link necessary for the completion of a system of ring roads around Nairobi to disperse traffic away from the city’s central business district.

The Western Bypass, which will link Ruaka to Waiyaki Way, will help decongest the city and facilitate easy movement of those travelling outside Nairobi.

The bypass is planned as a four lane highway measuring 16.5km with a design speed of 100km/hour.

It will connect with the Nairobi Southern Bypass at Gitaru, and the Northern Bypass at Ruaka. It will involve construction of interchanges and overpasses at major junctions at Wangige, Kihara, Ndenderu and Ruaka.

The Bypass will include a total of 17.37 km of service roads on both sides of the highway. It will also have underpasses for pedestrian traffic at market centres and a bus terminus at Wangige.

Two other Bypasses; the Northern and Eastern Bypasses in Nairobi, are complete with a third, the Nairobi Southern Bypass nearing completion.
The Government had envisioned that when completed, the four Bypasses will ease traffic congestion in the city.

The Eastern bypass (40km) starts at City Cabanas, passes through Ruai and ends at Ruiru.

The Bypass is already motorable. The Southern bypass (30km) starts on Mombasa road near the former American Embassy unit and ends on Naivasha Road after Kikuyu town.

The Northern bypass (25km) starts after Ruaka trading centre on Limuru Road, passes through Runda and joins the Eastern bypass ending at Ruiru.

The 20km Western bypass (link road) is expected to connect the Northern and southern bypasses through Waiyaki Way.

The Chinese government funded the construction of the Northern and Eastern bypasses under a design-and-build arrangement.