After nearly five years of anticipation, the Sh40 billion Dongo Kundu bypass has officially opened to the public.
Construction of the road which links Miritini in the west of Mombasa to Kibundani in Kwale, began in 2018, with substantial work kicking off in March 2020.
Initially slated for completion in March, the project faced a five-month delay.
Although the bypass is now open, the project is 96 per cent complete and only one section of the road is accessible to the public.
The contractor is still finalising essential aspects such as road signs, lighting and tarmacking.
A spot check by the Star confirmed that motorists and pedestrians are already using the completed section of the road.
Heavy trucks have not been allowed yet.
“We are so happy that finally the road has been opened to the public. We no longer need to queue at Likoni ferry channel to access South Coast,” a motorist said.
The road has opened the hinterland in Kwale.
Juma Saidi, a resident of Kwale, told the Star this will ease traffic at the Likoni crossing channel, which currently serves over 300,000 people and 6,000 cars daily.
“Finally, we can now breathe!” he said.
Hoteliers in the south coast are also beneficiaries.
Kenya Coast Tourists Association CEO Julius Owino said the opening of Dongo Kundu, though partially, is one of the best things that has happened to the Coast.
“The biggest infrastructural and transport challenge has been the ferry crossing channel, which has been synonymous with delay and heavy traffic, resulting into serious loss of time for scheduled safaris, airport transfers with clients even missing flights at times,” Owino told the Star.
Previously, tourists would spend up to two hours to access the Moi International Airport via the channel from Kwale.
The distance has now been shortened to only 45 minutes.
“As tourism stakeholders, this is our Damascus moment. We are very much elated and cannot wait for the full opening. Destination Diani will now be a premium holiday destination.”
George Mokaya, the chairman of the South Coast Residents Association, lauded the development.
“The road has brought pretty happy faces in all of us. Dongo Kundu is finally open, partially as it may be, but this is a step in the right direction,” Mokaya said.
They have been experiencing heavy traffic at the ferry channel.
“Finally, with the bypass now open, it will also open up easy access to the airport and SGR. This is a major relief to us and we appreciate the government for this action,” he said.
The bypass is a three-phased project.
Phase I of the project was completed at the cost of Sh11 billion.
Phase II of the road, which measures 8.96km, consists of a dual carriageway starting from the Mwache interchange.
It runs in a southerly direction from the interchange for four kilometres, crossing the Mwache Creek and going through the Tsunza peninsula before turning eastwards across the Mteza Creek.
The road also has an interchange at the Likoni-Lunga Lunga highway and the erection of three bridges, one at Mwache spanning 660 metres.
The other two bridges are at Tsunza Viaduct (690m) and the Mteza Bridge, which is now the longest bridge over water in the country and region straddling 1,440 metres.
Phase III of the project is from Mteza Bridge to Kibundani at the South Coast.