Road infrastructure project will transform Mombasa, coast region

Kenya’s second largest city, Mombasa occupies a special place in the national economy.

As the host to the country’s leading seaport, the city plays the critical role of being the gateway, not just to Kenya but the hinterland that includes Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and parts of northern Tanzania and eastern DR Congo.

A huge proportion of the imports into the region and the exports that go out of it transit through the Port of Mombasa, making it a key player in the overall performance of the regional economies.

Increasingly, the city is also on ascendancy as a tourist hub.

This is due to a number of factors, the key one being the fact that it hosts or is in close proximity to some of the best tourist facilities on the eastern seaboard of Africa.

Mombasa has thus evolved into a tourism hub, with most visitors including the Kenyan coast as part of their itineraries.

We saw this trend with the many cruise ships and air charters that the city has played host to recently.

It is for this reason that the Jubilee Government, under the leadership of President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto, has fast-tracked an impressive portfolio of infrastructure projects throughout the country aimed at improving the overall quality of the road network in the region.

Central to this strategy is the Mombasa Port Area Development Project (MPARD).

As the name suggests, the project, which is already well under way, will substantially ease traffic congestion around the port and improve connectivity within the region.

The first phase will link Miritini to the Kipevu Container Terminal through a dual carriageway, with two interchanges and an access road to the Moi International Airport (MIA) and are due for completion by August, 2017

SALIENT PROJECTS
The second phase, Mwache to Dongo Kundu, is equally critical with its main feature being the proposed 660 metre Mwache Span Bridge.

Significantly, the last phase (Dongo Kundu to Kibundani) links up with the Likoni-Ukunda-Lunga Lunga Road at Kibundani.

Another important project which was launched last month by the President is from Moi International Airport to Changamwe roundabout .

This project has benefited from funding from Trade Mark East Africa (TMEA) and the Government of Kenya and is due for completion in July, 2018.

The importance of these roads is that they will ease the pressure on the Likoni Ferry.

Residents and tourists will find this road a more efficient connection than the ferry. Most importantly, they will also ease the evacuation of goods from and into the Port of Mombasa.

The proposed Northern Bypass Road is at design stage, while the Likoni Bridge, which will eventually replace the existing ferry service is at feasibility study stage and will be implemented through public private partnership model.

Another important project in the region is the rehabilitation of the Bachuma Gate-Maji ya Chumvi section of the Nairobi-Mombasa Road.

The project, which is ongoing, is expected to be complete by November this year.

Also critical to the overall economic development in the Coastal region is the re-construction of the Voi-Mwatate Road, incorporating the Voi Loop Road and access to the university.

BRIGHT FUTURE

Located in Taita Taveta County, the road is critical for local economic activity.

The other key road project is the ongoing construction of the Kaloleni-Mabueni Road which is located in Kilifi County.

This project will serve as a greater Northern Bypass to the Kilifi- Malindi road and is expected to be completed by August, 2016.

Another planned project which will open up Malindi area is the Malindi- Salagate 100 km road project is also under procurement stage and is expected to start early March 2016.

With these key projects and the ongoing road maintenance works, the Coastal region is well on its way to fortifying its role as an efficient trade and tourism hub for Kenya and the region within the next two years.

Engineer Mosonik is Principal Secretary, State Department of Infrastructure, Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure. E-mail: [email protected]