NAIROBI, Kenya — Traffic Relief: President William Ruto has officially opened the newly completed KSh 3.8 billion Ngong Road–Naivasha Road viaduct, marking a monumental shift in Nairobi’s urban transport infrastructure aimed at eliminating one of the capital’s most notorious traffic bottlenecks.
The elevated flyover, constructed by the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) and funded through a partnership with Spain’s Corporate International Fund (FIEM), is designed to completely separate local through-traffic near Junction Mall.
Eradicating the Junction Mall Bottleneck
According to KURA’s engineering desk, the new viaduct works by elevating through-traffic on pillars above the ground, preventing direct interaction with local intersection traffic below. This design conflict resolution is projected to reduce overall congestion along the busy commuter corridor by a massive 60 percent, shortening daily travel times and heavily lowering vehicle operating costs for both public transport operators and private motorists.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, President Ruto emphasized that Nairobi’s persistent gridlocks are no longer just a transport inconvenience, but a severe drain on the national economy.
“For too long, congestion has imposed a heavy cost on our economy and on the daily lives of our people. It has delayed workers on their way to earning a living, increased the cost of doing business, kept traders away from customers, and taken precious time away from families,” the President noted. “Every hour spent in traffic translates into lost productivity, delayed income, and missed opportunities.”
Multi-Modal Infrastructure and Pedestrian Safety
Beyond easing motorized vehicle transit, the standard design of the flyover heavily incorporates dedicated pedestrian walkways and cycling lanes. KURA highlighted that the inclusion of non-motorized transport (NMT) infrastructure is a critical step in reducing the high rate of pedestrian accidents historically witnessed at the Ngong Road–Naivasha Road junction.
The project forms part of an expansive, ongoing urban renewal network. The government revealed that there are currently 729 kilometers of roads under routine maintenance and active rehabilitation across Nairobi to elevate the city’s global competitiveness and support economic growth. newsportal.co.ke
