KURA Extends Closure Of Section Of Eastern Bypass

The Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) announced on Tuesday night, January 31 that the partial closure of the Eastern Bypass was extended by two days.

In a notice shared at 10 pm, KURA revealed that the traffic disruption as a result of the closure would commence from Thursday, February 2 to Friday, February 3.

The section affected would be the stretch from China Roads and Bridges Corporation (CRBC) site camp to the Embakasi barracks heading towards Mombasa Road.

A notice showing the intended partial closure of the Eastern Bypass for road works. /KURA

"We wish to notify the general public that there will be traffic disruption along Eastern Bypass as from 6 AM Thursday 2nd February 2023 till 6 PM Friday 3rd February 2023.

"This is to allow the contractor to lay the final surface dressing at the section between Embakasi Barracks and CRBC site camp," the notice read in part.

KURA advised motorists to drive with caution as they approach the section, traffic marshals and police will be on-site to guide motorists so as to enable a smooth flow of traffic.

"Kindly bear with the situation as we endeavour to Enhance Urban Mobility," added the notice.

The notice however annoyed Kenyans who blamed KURA for not taking notice of the plight of motorists.

"So again you're extending the disruption?? You are very inconsiderate," an angry Shiko Wachira wrote, to which KURA replied "we are now on the opposite lane, Motorists are advised to use Outer Ring road for those connecting Thika Road and Mombasa Road."

In an earlier notice, KURA announced that the traffic disruption along the Eastern Bypass would run until Wednesday, February 1.

With the disruption, motorists using the outbound lane would be forced to share the road with those approaching the roundabout along the affected section.

On July 31, 2022, former President Uhuru Kenyatta launched the revamped Nairobi Eastern Bypass which includes five new major vehicular crossings and six-lane dual carriageways at the busy sections of the road, an expansion which KURA had in October 2022 set January 15 as the completion date.

He expressed optimism that the bypass road will significantly address the nightmare of traffic gridlocks in Nairobi estimated to cost the nation over Ksh5 billion annually in lost productivity time and wasted fuel.

The Eastern Bypass runs from the Cabanas junction along Mombasa Road all the way to Membley in Ruiru, connecting the Thika Superhighway.