Nairobi Expressway Announces Diversions Ahead of 24-Hour Closure for Footbridge Installation
Motorists using the Nairobi Expressway and sections of Mombasa Road have been urged to plan their journeys in advance after authorities confirmed a 24-hour closure to facilitate the installation of a new pedestrian footbridge near Airtel Complex.
The temporary closure will begin at 10:00 pm on Saturday, June 13, and remain in effect until 10:00 pm on Sunday, June 14, according to notices issued by both the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) and Moja Expressway.
The announcement follows an earlier advisory from KeNHA indicating that sections of the Mombasa-bound carriageway of Mombasa Road (A8) and parts of the Nairobi Expressway would be inaccessible during the construction works.
In a public notice released on Thursday, June 11, KeNHA stated that both carriageways of the Nairobi Expressway between Airtel Complex and General Motors (GM), as well as a section of the Mombasa-bound lane on Mombasa Road, would be temporarily closed to allow for the erection of fabricated steel beams forming part of the new Airtel footbridge.
To minimize disruption and ease traffic flow, Moja Expressway outlined alternative routes for motorists.
Drivers heading to Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) from the Mlolongo direction have been advised to exit the Expressway via Eastern Bypass Exit A and rejoin through Southern Bypass Entrance A.
Meanwhile, motorists travelling from the CBD towards Mlolongo should use Southern Bypass Exit B before re-entering the Expressway through Eastern Bypass Entrance B.
“We kindly urge all motorists to plan their journeys accordingly in advance,” Moja Expressway said in a statement.
According to KeNHA’s traffic management plan, motorists travelling from the CBD towards Mombasa Road will be diverted near the Shell area onto Likoni Road, before connecting to Enterprise Road and rejoining the A8 Highway at the General Motors junction on the way to Cabanas.
The closure is part of efforts to improve pedestrian safety along one of Nairobi’s busiest transport corridors.
Authorities noted that the construction of the new footbridge was necessitated by heavy pedestrian traffic in the area, where more than 3,000 people cross the road during morning and evening peak hours.
The crossing serves a large number of commuters, industrial workers, office employees and traders moving between commercial and industrial establishments around Airtel Complex, Subaru Kenya and surrounding business zones.
Currently, pedestrians are forced to rely on two existing footbridges located a considerable distance away. One crossing point lies approximately 1.4 kilometres south-east of Airtel Complex, while another is situated nearly 1.8 kilometres north-west near the South C-Popote Road junction.
The long distances have reportedly encouraged risky road crossings, prompting authorities to prioritize the construction of a safer and more convenient pedestrian link.
Once completed, the Airtel footbridge is expected to significantly enhance pedestrian safety, reduce accidents and improve movement within the heavily trafficked Mombasa Road corridor.
Also Read:Â Gachagua Lawyers Challenge Court Judgment Over Missing 64 Pages