Safari Njema Sept 2017 Safari_Njema_Sept | Page 21

Business, Investment & infrastructure Outering Road Expansion of Ngong road will be done in phases and starts at the Kenya National Library to the junction of Ring Road in Kilimani, a 2.6 kilometre stretch funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Since it started in February las t year, the government contacted World Kaihatsu Kogyo Limited to implement the Sh1.3 billion tender. Ngo n g Ro ad , w h ic h is supposed to link Nairobi and Ngong town, will be done in four phases. The second phase of expansion stretches from Nakumatt Prestige to Dagoretti Corner while the third phase stretches to Karen roundabout. The fourth and final phase will be from Karen-Ngong Town- Kiserian-Galleria/Bomas. Some of the project features include the widening of the existing two lane road into a dual carriageway, improvement of drainage facilities, construction of non-motorised traffic lanes, installation of street lights and i m p rove m e n t of ke y intersections. The upgrading of the road into a dual carriageway by China’s Sinohydro Corporation is expected to transform urban transport and unl eash new economic benefits in the densely populated sections of Nairobi. The Sh8 billion construction and modernisation of Outer Ring Road, which has been opened to the public already is a complete turnaround considering the road was a simple two way single 10 Km carriageway carrying over 1040 vehicles per hour yet the intended capacity is 800 vehicles. According to Silas Kinoti, the Acting Director General of Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), the 13-kilometer dual carriageway is meant to ease traffic and decongest Nairobi’s Eastlands region where many low income earners reside. “This road will make the lives of those who reside in Eastlands convenient,” he said. Residents are upbeat about the completion of the roads especially the motorists who are now using the detours that have been set up while they wait. Ngong Road September 2017 21