The number of motorists using the new Chinese-built Nairobi Expressway hit 23,600 to Friday last week since it was fully opened for public use on May 14, according to Cabinet Secretary for Transport James Wainaina Macharia.
Speaking to Metropol TV at a hotel in Nairobi, CS Macharia attributed the uptick in usage to the Ksh.65 billion road’s efficiency which has improved the city’s mobility system.
“The impact has been massive, very positive. Within a week we have reached 23,600 vehicles. Having started only seven days ago, this number is what we had on Friday. You can see the reaction was very immediate and the traffic system will get better in the city of Nairobi,” said CS Macharia.
According to him, Saturday recorded the highest number of users at 18,000 cars followed by Sunday at 15, 000, bringing the total number of cars that used the Expressway over the weekend to 33, 000.
The toll fee to use the Expressway from Mlolongo to Westlands is Ksh.360.
The cost of using the road from the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) station in Mlolongo and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to Westlands is Ksh.300 from Ksh.260, while those travelling from Capital Centre to the same destination will pay Ksh.180.
According to CS Macharia, 7,000 motorists paid toll fees using electronic means. Motorists have a choice to either make payment via Manual Toll Collection (MTC) or Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) methods.
To register for a manual tolling card, one needs a national ID card, Ksh.300 installation service charge. At least Ksh.1,000 must be loaded in points.
The electronic tolling card, on the other hand, requires one to have an ID, the logbook of the vehicle being registered and a Ksh.1,000 installation service charge.
A minimum of Ksh.2,000 must be loaded onto the card, which is faster to go through toll stations.
The CS emphasized the government’s efforts to rehabilitate the old Mombasa Road that will also incorporate a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line. The process is estimated to cost Ksh.9 billion.
“We are also planning to enhance the old road so that those who do not use the expressway can use the old road without any problem. We shall enhance the drainage system and the drainage system to make sure that people enjoy the benefit of this investment.”
The construction of the expressway began in mid-2020 as a partnership between the government through the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) and China Roads and Bridge Corporation (CRBC).
