The construction of the Nairobi Southern Bypass is expected to be complete by July, the Kenya National Highways Authority has said.

The project was delayed by the land acquisition of the park section.

Kenha special projects manager Paul Omondi said “the contractor plans to hand over section three of the project by mid-February and is working hard to complete the remaining work”, the Star reported.

China Road and Bridge Corporation was contracted by the government in November 2010 to design and construct the road.

The work is to be carried out through EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) contract.

It consists of the construction of a 28.6km dual carriageway and an extra eight-kilometre service road.

The completion of the road will ease traffic, reduce the effects of vehicle emissions and enhance socio-economic development in Nairobi.

The bypass starts from the junction of Mombasa Road interchange and ends on the Kabete-Limuru road at Kikuyu town.

The road crosses the National Park westward then goes through Lang’ata Road, Ngong Road, Motoini River, Dagoretti Road, Thogoto Road then passes over Ondiri River and the railway line towards Kikuyu town.

The project is designed for a speed of 100km/hr with some steep sections designed for 50km/hr.

Some main features on the road include full clover interchanges on Mombasa Road, Ngong Road, bridges at Community, Dagoretti, Thogoto and Kibera.

Box culverts have been built for drainage.

Omondi said the project has created jobs for the community.

He said conference halls and roads have been built to benefit the neighbouring communities.

The project is partly funded by the government through a partnership with China’s EXIM Bank at a cost of Sh17 billion Kenyan hhillings (approximately R2.1 billion).

–The Star