The Transport ministry has lined up Sh100 billion road projects at the Coast in yet another effort to speed up efficient movement of cargo and passengers even as standard gauge railway (SGR) nears completion.
Infrastructure Principal Secretary (PS) John Mosonik, said the projects – either at different stages of construction or set to begin in coming months – are being implemented in Mombasa, Kilifi, Taita Taveta, Kwale, Tana River and Lamu counties.
In Mombasa the State is spending Sh30 billion on roads including the key Miritini- Kipevu road which when completed will ease evacuation of cargo from the port. It is also expected to address traffic congestion from Miritini to Changamwe.
“The road will boost transportation of cargo from the port of Mombasa to Nairobi and the neighbouring countries of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo,” engineer Mosonik said.
The 16 kilometre (km) road project is part of the implementation of the phase one of the Dongo Kundu bypass project which will cost Sh11 billion and is scheduled for completion in July.
The SGR is expected to be ready by March, giving commuters and cargo importers a faster mass transit alternative. When completed, cargo trains are expected to move at speeds of up to 120km per hour and passenger trains at 180km per hour.
Kenya is in talks with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (Jica) to secure funding for the implementation of phase two of the Dongo Kundu bypass project.
The bypass is expected to open up the South Coast and tackle perennial transport challenges at the Likoni channel.
The State has also lined up another road from Port Reitz to Changamwe at Sh3 billion, saying the construction will be completed in June. It is aimed at addressing traffic congestion from Moi International Airport to Mombasa city centre.
Also on the cards is a Sh7 billion dual carriageway from Kwa Jomvu to Makupa Causeway. Eng Musonik said a tender has been awarded, and added that work should begin in the next two months.
“We have also awarded a contract worth Sh1 billion for the expansion of the road from Magongo to Kwa Jomvu in Mombasa,” he said.
The PS said the government was finalising the funding of the construction of a dual carriageway from Kwa Jomvu to Mariakani which will cost Sh7 billion.
The 13km dual carriageway is aimed at addressing traffic congestion on the Mombasa-Nairobi highway on the section from Kwa Jomvu to Mariakani.
Besides easing traffic flow, the planned Mombasa roads are expected to boost tourism, port business and other economic activities.
In Taita Taveta, the Sh7 billion Mwatate-Taveta road project is 80 per cent complete, the PS said adding the 110km road will boost transport between the border county and Tanzania once completed in March.
Eng Mosonik said the government is also rehabilitating the Mwatate-Wundanyi road at a cost of Sh1.2 billion as well as constructing a new 3km road connecting to Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology- Voi Campus.
He added that the rehabilitating of a section of a road from Voi town to Mwatate was planned.In Kilifi construction of the new Kaloleni-Mavueni road will be completed next month.
On the Mombasa-Nairobi highway, engineers are on the ground to repair the Mariakani-Kaloleni road at a cost of Sh270 million, the PS said.
The government has also started the construction of a new 45km road from Mariakani to Bamba and 5km of road in Kilifi town estimated to cost the taxpayer Sh1.5 billion.
The construction of a new Sh3.4 billion 110km road from Malindi to Sala Gate is also underway after the contractor moved to the site.
The Malindi-Sala Gate road project will take two years to complete. The government is also carrying out maintenance work on the Malindi-Mombasa highway at a cost of Sh247 million to be completed in April.
In Kwale the government is repairing the Ukunda-Lungalunga road at a cost of Sh250 million. It is set for completion in March.
The government is also expected to finalise the contract for the construction of the Kwale-Kinango road in the next one month.
The PS said the construction of the 40km road will cost Sh5 billion, adding that it will ease transportation of cargo and passengers in the county.
In Tana River and Lamu counties the government has awarded a contract for the construction of the Garsen-Lamu road.
The construction which is expected to address transport challenges between the two counties will begin next month. “With roads projects worth Sh100 billion, the government will address traffic congestion in Mombasa and neighbouring counties of Kilifi and Kwale,” he said.
“New roads being constructed in Taita Taveta and Kilifi will boost transport, tourism and agriculture and improve residents’ lives,” he added.
