Traffic jams on key road take toll on tourism and trade at the Coast

Heavy traffic jams on Moi International Airport-Makupa Causeway road are a nightmare to businesses and tourism at the Coast.

Tourism stakeholders on Wednesday described the congestion as a terrifying experience to holidaymakers, senior government officials and business executives on a daily basis.

Coast Tourist Association chairman Mohamed Hersi attributed the jam on the road, named after US President Barack Obama, to heavy trucks either loading or offloading containers at freight stations built on road reserves.

“It is appalling for visitors to spend hours on the road as trucks block the road when they are getting into or leaving container freight stations,” he said.

He blamed the encroachment on road reserves by freight stations on Mombasa Municipal Council and influential Coast politicians.

Kenya Association of Tour Operators Coast branch chairperson Monika Solanki called on the government to fulfil its pledge of demolishing buildings on road reserves to pave the way for the expansion of the highway.

Ms Solanki noted that although the Kenya Urban Roads Authority promised to demolish structures on road reserves to create room for the construction of a dual-carriage way in March, nothing had been done.

She said the jams, which take over two-hours to clear, were causing inconveniences to tourists.

“Many a times holidaymakers end up missing flights after being caught up in jams for hours. This issue has remained unsolved for years,” she said.

“It is sad for tourists, who spend about eight to nine hours on their flights from Europe, to be delayed on the road as they head to Malindi, Kilifi and Watamu,” she said.

Mombasa Town Clerk Tubmun Otieno acknowledged that the airport road was a nightmare, but said it was upto the duty the roads authority to act.

He noted that Mombasa was a port and tourism hub deserving better roads because the government rakes in billions of shillings from the port and tourism every year.

“Mombasa deserves better roads, flyovers, dual carriageways and where necessary tunnels to solve the traffic woes.”

He said the council had warned developers against erecting structures on road reserves but they went ahead after getting the support of influential people.

The roads authority, he urged, should demolish the buildings to pave the way for the expansion of the key road.

“All illegal buildings on road reserves must be brought down to allow the expansion of the airport road,” he said.

Roads minister Franklin Bett, while on a tour of Mombasa roads early this year, said buildings on road reserves would be pulled down to create room for expansion.

Dual carriageway promise

The minister said a dual carriage way would be built to link up the local airport and the town to ease traffic jams on the airport road.

Mr Bett added that the government planned to build another bridge to decongest Nyali bridge.

The expansion of the Mombasa roads and the construction of a second bridge, he added, was aimed at reducing traffic congestion.