An aerial view of the Nairobi Expressway along Waiyaki Way on November 12, 2021.
The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has announced that motorists using the busy Nairobi-Nakuru highway should expect traffic disruptions from mid-December to mid-January 2025.
According to the Roads Authority, the disruption is due to planned construction works on a section of Waiyaki Way at Kangemi Interchange, which will be temporarily closed from December 11 to January 17, 2025, for the construction of a bridge at the junction of Loresho, Muthanga and Hinga roads.
"We would like to inform the public of a temporary traffic disruption at the Kangemi Interchange on the A8 Highway (Waiyaki Way)," the authority said.
The 37-day closure will be carried out in two phases, the first of which will affect Nairobi-bound motorists.
Phase 1: Nairobi-bound traffic (left-hand side) will be diverted to the right-hand side from Wednesday, December 11, 2024 to Monday, December 26, 2024.
During this period, KeNHA will completely close the Nairobi-bound lanes of Waiyaki Way, forcing motorists to use the outbound lane.
Phase 2: Nakuru/Rironi bound traffic (right side) will be diverted to the left side from Saturday December 28, 2024 to Friday January 17, 2025.
During this period, KeNHA will close the outbound lanes to vehicles travelling to Nakuru and beyond.
The notice adds that vehicles will be diverted to the inbound lane. This means that both inbound and outbound vehicles will share the three lanes on this stretch of road.
The authority advised motorists to follow the proposed traffic management plan and cooperate with the police and traffic marshals on the ground.
In a separate announcement, KeNHA said the Thika Superhighway will also be partially closed from December 12 to 17.
The authority said the road would be closed at Juja Highpoint (Centurion) to allow for the construction of a footbridge.
KeNHA said the public should expect traffic disruptions as a result of the closure.
"Nairobi-bound traffic will use a diversion behind Lexo petrol station before rejoining the highway, while Thika-bound traffic will use a diversion behind Centurion Hotel before rejoining the highway," it said.
In December 2022, then Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen ordered the construction of at least four footbridges along the Thika Superhighway.
He said the footbridges would ease the movement of pedestrians and curb rampant accidents along the busy highway.
KeNHA will construct the bridges at Juja Highpoint stage near Centurion Hotel, Kihunguro section, Juja Mona Park area and Clay Works/Northlands.
"More footbridges are planned for installation at various sections of the Thika Superhighway and the engineering design has been done," Murkomen said at the time.
He was responding to questions from Ruiru MP Simon King'ara on the government's safety measures along the Thika Road.
The announcements come amid a flurry of construction work on major roads in and around Nairobi, all of which will affect the flow of traffic.
On Saturday November 23, KeNHA announced the temporary closure of the Uhuru Highway at the Haile Sellasie roundabout for 51 days.
The disruption was due to scheduled road works for the construction of the pedestrian underpass at that section of the road. According to the KeNHA boss, the works would start next week, Thursday to Friday, January 17, 2025.
Motorists using the route have been urged to follow the proposed traffic management plan, use road signs and cooperate with police and traffic marshals who will be on-site to control traffic.
Last month, the Roads Authority warned of a one-month closure of a section of the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway linking the southern and western bypasses.
