A road connecting Port Reitz and Moi International Airport in Kenya has been commissioned by President Uhuru Kenyatta
The road is being financed by UK’s Department of International Development (DFID) through Trademark East Africa (TMEA) with a grant of US$20mn. The government of Kenya is providing US$11mn.
UK High Commissioner to Kenya Nic Hailey said, “The UK is proud to support the Mombasa Port modernisation project. It will reduce the cost of doing business, improve infrastructure, and boost trade and economic growth in the EAC. This is a critical road. Our support, in partnership with and fitting with the overall vision of the Kenyan government, will benefit the population of Mombasa and reduce the cost of goods to millions of EAC residents.”
The Port Reitz road will be the only way to access the Moi International Airport and links the second container terminal at the Mombasa Port to the Northern Corridor, East and Central Africa. Once completed, the new road will reduce traffic congestion at the Port Reitz area, which is a major road facilitating movement of cargo to and fro the Mombasa Port as well as Mombasa Town.
Kenya’s cabinet secretary for transport and infrastructure James Macharia said, “The road link will serve as a key catalyst to improve cargo handling capacity of the port of Mombasa, in order to adequately serve Kenya's growing economy, as well as retaining the Mombasa port as the preferred one by the neighbouring economies. This will in turn ensure economic prosperity for both Kenya and the region.”
Kenya National Highways Authority (KNHA) will be supporting the road construction through a dual carriageway. Existing access roads to the port and airport will also be improved and will cover 6.4 km.
The construction contract also covers the movement of traffic at intersections, including the installation of traffic lights and grade separated junctions. Mombasa County will be provided with its first two grade-separated interchange traffic intersection. Drainage facilities and sidewalks along the Port Reitz road and Moi Airport access roads will also be installed.
Immediate access will also be given to the new Kipevu West Container Terminal, significantly decreasing time taken to enter and exit port gates. The new access points in and out of the Mombasa port can accommodate around 30 per cent of the traffic from the existing terminal.
