Mombasa County To Close Nyali Bridge, Governor Reveals Why
Nassir revealed that the closure will allow for the demolition of a 9-storey building located off Abdel Nasser Road, revealed to be suffering from structural integrity issues.
Viral Tea Ke Writer 
Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir has announced that Nyali Bridge, which connects Mombasa Island to the mainland of Kenya, will be closed on Wednesday, April 9.
In a statement, the county boss on Tuesday, April 8, revealed that the closure will last for one hour to all traffic using the route to access the mainland. No vehicle will be able to access the bridge during that period, and the governor did not reveal alternative routes to the affected motorists.
Nassir revealed that the closure will allow for the demolition of a 9-storey building located off Abdel Nasser Road, revealed to be suffering from structural integrity issues.
Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir and other county officials during a briefing at the governor's office in Mombasa County. /ABDULSWAMAD NASSIR
The county government, in collaboration with other government institutions such as the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), plans to conduct a controlled explosion.
"The Nyali Bridge will be closed to all traffic for one hour prior to the scheduled demolition. We urge all commuters to adjust their travel plans accordingly," the statement read in part, adding "This precautionary measure is undertaken solely to safeguard lives and ensure a controlled and injury-free operation."
On the flip side, the governor also mentioned that his administration was moving patients out of Coast General Hospital due to the scheduled activity.
"This nine-storey structure has exhibited severe foundational compromise due to unapproved borehole drilling into the foundation, with ground floor columns collapsing by approximately three meters. The building has been declared structurally unsound and poses an imminent risk to life and property. In light of this, a controlled demolition has been scheduled to avert a potential catastrophe.
"The nearby Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital currently has 504 patients, out of which 380 are ready to be discharged. The remaining 124 patients, including 8 in the Intensive Care Unit, are being relocated to Utange and Port Reitz Hospitals," read the statement in part.
Also, businesses near the demolition site will be shut down, and locals are being told to keep their distance while it takes place.
The governor assured the public that the demolition of the multi-storey building wouldn’t impact nearby residential areas, but still urged those living close by to leave their homes due to the potential hearing hazards from being near the blast zone.
"In accordance with international safety standards for explosive demolition, a 1.2-kilometre radius from the site must be fully vacated," read the statement in part.
"This radius extends from Digo Road to Hospital Road, Jomo Kenyatta Road to Mwembe Tayari to Kava Shibu Road, Faza Road to Kisauni Road, Tononoka Road to Muslim Road, and Tana Street to Wajir Road, stretching up to Solomon Castle Hotel and Ronald Ngala Road."
Nassir noted that the oceanic extension of this radius requires full cooperation from all Beach Management Units operating in nearby waters.
He also announced that the inner security cordon shall be strictly manned by the KDF, while a secondary perimeter will be enforced by the National Police Service and the County Inspectorate.
The county boss had directed traders within the marked zone to vacate by 2:00 pm today, warning that "This is a non-negotiable safety requirement."
The demolition is scheduled to start at 6 am and is expected to run for eight hours. Locals had also been warned earlier not to rush to the site afterward to scavenge for materials, as doing so could be dangerous.
