A Sh29bn bypass to be constructed in Mombasa

Last Updated 14 years ago by Kenya Engineer

The government has received a Sh29 billion loan from the Japanese government through, Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to construct a 26km bypass that will link the island of Mombasa to South Coast.

The road also referred to as the Dongo Kundu Bypass –is aimed at easing movement of cargo from the port and is the second largest project after the LAPSSET Corridor. It will serve as an alternative link from the hinterland to the South Coast and to the planned Dongo Kundu Port. It is scheduled to start in December and complete by August 2018.

The project as proposed will feature a road that will branch off from the main Mombasa to Nairobi (A109) road, and traverse Miritini, Kipevu, Tsunza, Mtenza to end at Kibundani in the South Coast.

According to Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA), the scope of the Project will include construction of roads, bridges and drainage facilities at selected locations, installation of slope protection works, provision of road safety facilities and other amenities.

On completion, the road will decongest the city of Mombasa since it will provide an alternative route to the Likoni ferry. It will also connect the new container terminal near Moi International Airport with the Northern transport corridor and the South Coast.

Roads Minister, Franklin Bett pointed that the project would be fast tracked by government technical teams. He also pointed out that preliminary designs have been done but positions for consultants to carry out detailed designs for the project will be advertised soon.

The road, though shorter than the 45KM Nairobi-Thika highway will cost more since it will traverse a swampy area. It will have 4 bridges with one measuring more than a kilometer long across the sea. The project comes at a time when the Mombasa port is undergoing expansion.

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