President Uhuru Kenyatta opened the first section of the Dongo Kundu bypass constructed at a cost of Sh11 billion, which will ease the perennial traffic congestion at Kenya’s second largest city of Mombasa.

The 10 kilometre bypass runs from the Second Container Terminal of the Mombasa Port and joins the Mombasa – Nairobi Highway at Bonje near Mazeras. The only available connection to the southern part of the Kenya’s coast was using the Likoni Ferry along the Kilindini harbour that is plagued by traffic congestion.

“This road we are commissioning today is a unique piece of infrastructure. It is designed with provisions to integrate seamlessly with the Port of Mombasa, the Moi International Airport, the Standard Gauge Railway, the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway, and the upcoming Mombasa Northern Bypass,” said the President at Bonje where the launch ceremony was held.

The bypass is part of a grand plan by the Kenyan government to open up Kenya’s coast with several key infrastructural investments. These include the expansion of Port of Mombasa and its link roads, the development of Standard Gauge Railway both for cargo as well as passenger terminal as well as the development of the northern bypass which links the Mombasa- Nairobi road with the north coast at Kilifi.

These are major connections to the Lamu Port under construction as well as to Tanzania border in Lungalunga, a major trade and commerce border port. The bypass is designed to ease the huge traffic snarl-ups that have always affected movement of people and evacuation of goods from Mombasa, which is the international sea gateway to Kenya and neighbouring countries. Most of the neighbouring countries in the region which are land-locked depend on Mombasa Port and the Mombasa – Nairobi Highway to import goods.

The opening of the first phase will be followed by the start of the construction of the second and third phases, which will cost Sh30 billion.  The two new phases, that will link the Mombasa – Nairobi Highway with the Likoni-Lungalunga Road, will include a 8.9 kilometre road from Mwache Junction to Mteza and a 6.9 kilometre road from Mteza to Kibundani.

It will also include an Interchange on the Likoni – Lungalunga Road and the installation of a 900 metres long bridge at Mwache and another bridge spanning 1.4 kilometre at Mteza.

Source: The Exchange

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