Nairobi Expressway: First expressway in East and Central Africa

Nairobi Expressway: First Expressway in East and Central Africa

The Nairobi Expressway Project is a 27.1km road project beginning from Mlolongo through the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and Nairobi’s CBD to Westland’s area along Waiyaki Way. The over Ksh 60 billion road project is the first major project in the Kenya to be carried out through a PPP model and the first Expressway in East and Central Africa.

The project broke ground in October 2019 with China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) as the contractor. CRBC is responsible for the design, financing, and construction of the road under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework. The company will also operate the road for about 27 years so as to recoup its investment through the collection of road tolls.

The project

The Nairobi Expressway includes a four-lane and six-lane dual carriageway within the existing median of Mombasa Road, Uhuru Highway, and Waiyaki Way as well as 10 interchanges. The section between the Eastern and Southern bypasses will is a six-lane dual carriageway while the section from to the Eastern Bypass and that from the Southern Bypass to James Gichuru is a four-lane dual carriageway. The elevated highway begins near Ole Sereni Hotel and run through the CBD along the Uhuru highway up to the James Gichuru junction. Haile Selassie Road, Kenyatta Avenue, and University Way are below the elevated road.

How the expressway will operate

Moja Expressway, a subsidiary of China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), will operate the road for 27 years to recoup the construction funds through toll fees. The company has provided safety tips to ensure the expressway runs smoothly.

Motorists using the Nairobi Expressway will be required to move at a speed of 80km/h once opened to the public. Taking U-turns and reversals is prohibited on the expressway, with motorists who miss the planned exit required to proceed to the next toll station to exit. Several activities have also been prohibited on the expressway, including graffiti and scribbling on expressway property and setting up billboards without prior authorization Stealing and damaging properties as well as construction without permission is also not allowed. Any form of speed test and race is prohibited along the expressway. Motorists have also been banned from driving along the emergency lane set

aside except in cases of emergency. Overloading is also not allowed and in case one intends to drive an oversized load vehicle along the expressway, they will be required to submit an application to the Expressway Plaza three days in advance. Rearing and herding livestock on and along expressway as well as setting up stalls, parking, dumping waste and blocking ditches under the bridge are prohibited.

Toll Stations

There are a total of 11 toll stations and 27 toll plazas. The toll plazas comprise the entrance and exit routes while the stations encompass the two.

Nairobi West

It consists of one toll station that serves as both the entrance and exit route. Motorists can access the station through Waiyaki Way, Westlands as well as exit to ABC Place and St Austin Catholic Church.

Westlands

The facility consists of one plaza that serves as an entrance from The Mall, opposite the One Africa Place Building. There is no exit point. sist of an exit route to the University of Nairobi (UoN) main campus as well as an entrance point for motorists plying the Thika Superhighway. The exit route joining the Thika Superhighway will not be open to the public.

Haile Selassie

The Haile Selassie route has three plazas (Two entry points and an exit) whereby motorists can either join or exit the road from the Bunyala roundabout. This enables easier access to Upper Hill. Further, an entry point is placed from the Central Business District (CBD).

Capital Center

Along the Mombasa road stretch, motorists can join the road from two entry points; CID and Tata Motors. Along the stations are two exit routes; one heading to South B and the other to South C along Bellevue.

Southern Bypass

Motorists can access the road via an entry point at NextGen Mall as well as Airtel near the Southern bypass/Mombasa road interchange. Drivers can exit the expressway through two main points; heading to Likoni Road and to DTB Bank. This consists of two toll stations and four plazas: One station serves as an entrance from Cabanas Bus Stop and exit to Outering Road. The second station serves as an entrance from Saj Ceramics and exit to Nairobi Expressway Plaza

JKIA (Two plazas; entry and exit point)

Those using the Expressway to access the airport can use the road's exit point. Motorists can also exit the airport and access the road through an entry point located a few metres from Gateway Mall.

Standard Gauge Railway (SGR)

The SGR route consists of two plazas; an entrance from SGR and an exit to SGR just beside Kapa Oil Refineries. Mlolongo

There is an entrance from AIC Kasina Church and an exit to Great Wall, just right next to the Mlolongo Footbridge. Nairobi East. This consists of one toll station that has an entrance and exit from Athi River while heading to Machakos.