The government is in talks with potential investors about the possibility of building a second bridge at Nyali in Mombasa.
This is part of wider plans to ease traffic congestion in Mombasa, the gateway to the East African region.
The planned second Nyali bridge will augment the dualing of the road from Nyali to Mtwapa and then to Kilifi, also meant to ease traffic.
Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen on Friday told the National Assembly Regional Integration Committee sitting in Mombasa that already the contract for the dualing of the Mtwapa-Kilifi section is ongoing.
“The next phase is from Nyali bridge where we are hoping to do a second bridge. There is still conversation about having a second bridge under PPP and dualling this road,” Murkomen said.
The expansion of the Nyali-Mtwapa-Kilifi road will ensure smooth traffic flow with the increased vehicles on the road currently posing a challenge, especially during peak hours where traffic jams extend for as long as two hours.
The existing Nyali bridge is a concrete girder bridge connecting the city of Mombasa on Mombasa Island to the mainland of Kenya and located on B8 road.
The bridge crosses Tudor Creek to the north-east of the island and is one of three road links out of Mombasa.
It is 391.65 metres long and 26.3 metres wide with a total of six lanes.
The main bridge is 330 metres prestressed continuous box girder over three spans with the centre span of 150 metres.
A second Mtwapa bridge is also in the works and will be adjacent to the existing one.
The existing Mtwapa bridge consists of three spans totaling 192 metres long and approximately 15 metres wide carrying two lanes.
The superstructure is a prestressed box girder with the centre span of 111.9 metres. The outer spans are 40 metres each.
Murkomen said the Dongo Kundu project, which is ongoing, will further ease the traffic congestion at the Likoni crossing channel.
He said the expected date of completion is March 2024 and this will later include dualing of the road from Likoni to Tanga in Tanzania.
“We are working with the European Union,’” Murkomen said.
Traffic at the crossing channel has once again increased due to the stoppage of the use of the Liwatoni foot bridge.
Officially, the stoppage is due to repair works, but CS Murkomen on Friday intimated that this could be the start of the planned removal of the bridge altogether.
The Liwatoni foot bridge, which cost Sh1.9 billion, was built specifically to ease congestion at the Likoni ferry and to help curb the spread of Covid-19.
It is only used by pedestrians during the day. At night, the bridge is left open for ships to pass through.
Pedestrians wait for about an hour before crossing should there be a ship about to pass.
The plan was that the bridge be dismantled in five years’ time once the Mombasa Gate Bridge is complete.
Murkomen was coy when asked about the Mombasa Gate Bridge.
He said the Liwatoni foot bridge has led to unnecessary congestion hence hindering economic growth in the area.
The plan is to have residents who wish to cross from Mombasa Island to the Southern Coast use the Dongo Kungu bypass.
“We are still in conversation but we really want to do away with that bridge. That bridge has created unnecessary congestion in our port and I think the conversation is ongoing to see if we should expedite the Dongo Kundu Road,” he said.
“Once we do the Dongo Kundu road to completion we don’t need that bridge because it is causing immense delays,” he added.
He visited the Dongo Kundu project in the company of his Ugandan counterpart Gen Edward Katumba Wamala.
Speaking at the Mteza bridge, which is the longest of the Dongu Kundu project, Murkomen said they are focused on the infrastructure that relates to the Special Economic Zone.
“Because once this is done then the construction of the SEZ becomes easier because then the contractors can move their goods easily to the site,” the CS said.
Gen Wamala said many Ugandan investors will be at the Dongo Kundu SEZ.
“Of course we are now talking about a regional project. We have a better chance of success when we work as a region than when we work as individuals,” said Wamala.
Murkomen said there will be space in the SEZ for Uganda and many other countries in the region.