Tolled Chinese-built Nairobi Expressway Records Daily Traffic Of 50,000 Vehicles, Shortens Ride By 2 Hours

New tolled Chinese-built 27.1-km Nairobi Expressway currently records an average traffic volume of 50,000 vehicles.

The expressway, inaugurated by Kenyan President in August, shortens travel time from 3-hrs to 24 minutes.

CRBC, which built and financed the $668m Expressway, will operate it for 27 years to recoup the investment through toll fees.

Nairobi’s traffic gridlock is estimated to cost Kenya over $41.99m annually in lost productivity and wasted fuel.

The newly-inaugurated 27.1 kilometer (16.8 miles) Nairobi Expressway currently records an average daily traffic volume of 50,000 vehicles, to operator said this week.

The Chinese-built Expressway was officially commissioned by Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta in August, following three months of trial-runs. Since it was opened for public trials in May, a 3-hours drive now takes between 15 and 24 minutes.

China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) financed and built the $668 million highway under a public-private partnership (PPP) model. CRBC will operate it for 27 years to recoup the investment through toll fees.

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During the inauguration, Kenyatta hailed the Chinese-built roads for boosting development and cutting travel time in the country. He noted the roads’ has bolstered the country’s tourism, conferencing and hospitality sectors.

“Since we opened the road (Nairobi Expressway) for public trials, it now takes between 15 and 24 minutes to drive from Mlolongo in Machakos County to Rironi in Kiambu County.

“It has ushered in an era of reduced travel time and increased mobility and an era of reduced congestion and enhanced productivity,”

“Before the expressway, that journey would take at least three hours which is the equivalent of flying to Addis Ababa and back,” Kenyatta said.

Kenyatta said he believes the expressway and bypass will address Nairobi’s traffic gridlock, which is estimated to cost Kenya over $41.99 million annually in lost productivity and wasted fuel.

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