Nairobi motorists have been advised to plan their journeys early after the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) announced temporary road closures along Uhuru Highway and sections of the Southern Bypass to facilitate scheduled road maintenance this weekend.
According to KeNHA, the closures will take effect from 10:00 p.m. on Friday, August 8, and remain in place until 5:00 a.m. on Sunday, August 10. The works will involve pothole repairs, drainage improvements, road resurfacing and the installation of fresh road markings aimed at enhancing safety ahead of the expected rainy season.
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The affected section of Uhuru Highway will run in both directions between Nyayo Stadium Roundabout and Bunyala Roundabout. During the maintenance period, the Haile Selassie Avenue and Langata Road exits along the Southern Bypass will also be closed temporarily, while service lanes on Uhuru Highway will operate at reduced capacity.
The weekend works are expected to disrupt traffic for thousands of motorists travelling to and from Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD), Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Mombasa Road and western Kenya. Public transport users are also likely to experience delays as matatu operators adjust their routes to accommodate the temporary diversions.
To minimise congestion, KeNHA has issued alternative routes for motorists. Drivers travelling from the CBD towards JKIA and Mombasa Road are advised to use Bunyala Road, connect to Lusaka Road, and then rejoin Mombasa Road. Those heading from Westlands and Waiyaki Way towards the Southern Bypass should use Ring Road Parklands, Valley Road and Langata Road before joining the bypass near Bomas of Kenya.
Motorists travelling from Langata and Karen into the city are encouraged to avoid Uhuru Highway by using Langata Road, Ngong Road and Valley Road, although these routes are expected to experience heavier traffic, particularly on Saturday afternoon.
Note that disruptions along Uhuru Highway often have a ripple effect across Nairobi because it is one of the city’s busiest transport corridors. As a result, motorists should expect increased congestion along Valley Road, Ngong Road, Lusaka Road and Mombasa Road throughout the maintenance period.
KeNHA said the maintenance programme forms part of its ongoing efforts to improve road conditions before the onset of the October short rains and appealed to road users to cooperate with traffic officers and observe all temporary traffic signs.
