The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) on Tuesday reopened the section of the Airport South Road that was shut close to seven years ago.
KeNHA closed the section between Outering Road/Airport North Road Overpass and Freight Terminal Roundabout on 20th February, 2014, which meant that the only access to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) was through Mombasa Road.
The road section, however, is limited to only Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) buses.
Concerted effort to ease traffic
Construction of the Nairobi Expressway from Mlolongo to Westlands has already started, with the road expected to address the daily traffic jam on Mombasa road, and to help travelers access JKIA easily.
The move to reopen the road also comes a month after President Uhuru Kenyatta in November commissioned the refurbished Nairobi Central Railway Station and unveiled commuter rail service across 10 stations in the Nairobi region, that will be served by Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) trains.
Government is hopeful that the stations will provide enhanced transport in the high-density residential areas of Ruiru, Mwiki, Embakasi Village, Athi River, Kikuyu, Kahawa, Githurai, Dandora, Pipeline, and Donholm.
In the next one year, Uhuru said, the scheduled commuter rail service will be extended to JKIA, allowing air travelers an alternative mode of transport to end the frustration of being caught up in the Mombasa Road traffic jam.
“While this extension is being constructed, high capacity buses will be stationed at Embakasi Village Station to provide direct transport services to and from the JKIA,” Uhuru had said.
