KeNHA Announces Closure Of Section Of Mombasa Road On 2 Weekends
The closure is also expected to inconvenience shoppers who access the Imaara Mall through its main entrance, with possibly a long weekend on the horizon.
Marvin Chege 
The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has announced the partial closure of Mombasa Road on two separate occasions; this weekend and the next weekend, disrupting travel for commuters and motorists plying the road.
For this weekend, KeNHA announced in a statement that the closure will commence tonight (Friday, May 31) at 8 pm until Monday, June 3, at 6 am. Targeted for the closure are both lanes heading to Nairobi.
The same section will be closed the following weekend starting Friday, June 7, at 8 pm to Monday, June 10, at 6 am, however, this will affect the Mombasa-bound lanes.
KeNHA's logo painted on an overpass in Nairobi. /FILE
"The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) wish to notify the Public that there will be a partial closure of Mombasa (A8) Road, Nairobi bound lanes at Imaara Mall from Friday, May 31, 2024, at 20:00 hours to Monday, June 3, 2024, at 06:00 hours and closure of the same road section on the Mombasa bound lanes from Friday, June 7, 2024, at 20:00 hours to Monday, June 10, 2024 at 06:00 hours," the statement read in part.
KeNHA explained that the partial closure of the major road linking Nairobi to Mombasa will allow for the installation of culverts and reinstatement works at these sections.
Amidst this development, KeNHA advised motorists to take the following measures:
- Use the two through lanes and approach the affected sections with caution.
- Follow the traffic signs and guidance as directed by the traffic Police and Marshals.
"The Authority remains committed to ensuring seamless connectivity to facilitate safe passage for economic prosperity," added the statement.
The closure is also expected to inconvenience shoppers who access the Imaara Mall through its main entrance, with possibly a long weekend on the horizon.
The latest closure adds to a series of closures affecting the major highway, attributed to the ongoing rebuilding of Mombasa Road, which has suffered damage due to the construction of the Nairobi Expressway.
The situation has been further made worse by the heavy flooding in Nairobi, impacting several major roads in the city.
With Mombasa Road being a crucial lifeline for transportation and commerce between Nairobi and Mombasa, any disruption in its accessibility could have significant ramifications for businesses and travellers alike.
Local residents and businesses have been asked to brace themselves for potential delays and diversions, with some expressing concerns over the impact on daily routines and commercial activities.
In February 2023, KeNHA said plans were underway to upgrade the old Mombasa Road to the standards of Nairobi Expressway in a Ksh24.8 billion project that would see new footbridges and pedestrian paths constructed.
KeNHA Director General Kungu Ndungu revealed that the construction was to start soon after the repair of the sections of the road destroyed during the construction of the Expressway was complete.
He stated at the time that the restoration of sections of the road that were damaged during the construction of the 27-kilometre road was almost complete.
