The trial operation for the Nairobi Expressway Haile Selassie Exit Plaza is set to commence.
Moja Expressway said the trial operations will kick off on Saturday with Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen set to launch it.
"We are pleased to announce that the trial operation of the newly completed Nairobi Expressway Haile Selassie Exit Plaza will commence on Saturday, January 20, 2024," Moja Expressway said.
The Haile Selassie Exit Plaza has five lanes which are meant to help ease traffic congestion between Capital and Haile Selassie Roundabout.
The new Expressway exit plaza offers smooth access to Nairobi CBD, Upper Hill, and Ngong Road.
Transport and Roads Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen had in December given assurance that the new Expressway exit would be ready by mid-January.
Murkomen said the project with its five lanes will reduce congestion and improve traffic flow within the city.
“There are also plans to add two more lanes, from the current three, at the Museum Hill exit. The Nairobi Expressway is a shining monument to what private-public partnerships can do,” he said.
Murkomen praised the project saying it has reduced travel time from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to Nairobi from two hours to 20 minutes at zero cost to taxpayers.
“The expressway employed 6,000 Kenyans during its construction, it now has 500 people employed permanently,” he said.
Murkomen said 200,000 subscribers have enrolled in the e-ticketing system in the past 19 months.
He said the road has carried 26 million vehicles, which is proof that it has demand.
“Besides the many socioeconomic benefits it has brought to our country, the Nairobi Expressway has facilitated the transfer of technology to Kenya," Murkomen said.
"Its smart traffic monitoring system, with a 360-degree view of the whole road, has enhanced security and emergency response. It will provide a good benchmark for the Intelligent Traffic System we have piloted and is ready for roll-out,” he said.
Murkomen said the success of the project has seen an increase in demand for similar projects.
“We are therefore considering the dualling of the Rironi-Mau Summit road, which will begin next year,” he said.
A long-term plan to develop roads across the country is currently underway.
Immigration Department to be open on Saturday for passport collection