| Nairobi Expressway | |
|---|---|
| Route information | |
| Length | 17 mi (27 km) |
| History | Designated in 2019 Completion in 2022 |
| Major junctions | |
| South end | Jomo Kenyatta International Airport |
| Likoni Road Junction James Gichuru Road Junction | |
| North end | Rironi |
| Location | |
| Country | Kenya |
| Highway system | |
The Nairobi Expressway is a 27 kilometres (17 mi) toll road in Kenya, connecting Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to Nairobi's Westlands area, that has been constructed under a public-private partnership between the government of Kenya and China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC).[1]
The 27.1-kilometer road starts from Mlolongo passing through JKIA and Nairobi’s CBD to the James Gichuru junction along Waiyaki Way. From Mlolongo, the road links up via an interchange with Airport South Road, to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, along the Nairobi-Mombasa Road. The highway continues along the existing roadway to the Likoni Road Junction, a distance of approximately 10 kilometres (6 mi).[2]
From the Likoni Road junction, the toll highway continues northwards to the James Gichuru Road junction, a distance of approximately 13.5 kilometres (8 mi).[3]
The Nairobi Expressway is aimed at easing traffic and provide a seamless access to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and it's environs.[4] The work involves expansion of the existing road to four-lanes one-way, (8 lanes total), with foot paths, drainage channels, overpass bridges and street lighting.[5]
The government of Kenya has contracted with China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) to build this toll road on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis. CRBC will use their own money to construct the road expansion, interchanges and toll stations. They will collect the toll fees until their investment is recovered, then the road will revert to government.[6]
The road expansion is to be done in stages. The World Bank had indicated interest in funding the road expansion, but those plans have been overtaken by events.[7] The cost of the toll highway is quoted as between KSh51 billion (US$510 million) and KSh65 billion (US$650 million).[5]
In April 2022, 98.4 Capital FM reported that the construction of the expressway was complete and was awaiting political and commercial commissioning. The road project which cost over US$560 million to build, is expected to reduce travel time from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to the Nairobi central business district to between 15 and 20 minutes, instead of the one hour it took during off-peak and two hours it took during peak, before the expressway was built.[8]