Evacuation of the containers from the Mombasa port is set to improve following the completion of the construction of the first phase of the Southern Bypass as the government plans to commence the construction of the other two phases.
In May 2015, the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) with the support of Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) embarked on the construction of Miritini – Kipevu New Container Link Road approximately 11.4 Km, estimated to cost Sh 11 billions.
The road project is package one of the Mombasa Port Area Road Development Project (MPARD) also known as the Dongo Kundu Bypass. The Bypass start at Miritini, about 10 kilometres away from Mombasa Island, West of Moi International Airport, on the central mainland and once fully complete will connect to the South mainland along Likoni- Diani road.
The bypass, that will stretch approximately 17.5 kilometers long, will significantly improve efficiency at the port and is expected to reduce congestion at Jomvu and Miritini. The first phase of the project connects with the Mombasa container terminal.
With Dongo Kundu by pass in use, the trucks will easily avoid the congested Changamwe circuit by joining the highway at Miritini along Mombasa-Nairobi highway.
The new link road to container terminal is a dual carriageway. It runs in a southerly direction through Mwache junction, approximately 5.6 km and turns eastwards along the coastline to the new container terminal. An access road to the Moi International Airport has also been constructed to facilitate ease access to the bypass from the Airport.
The bypass is also expected to revolutionize the tourism sector in the South Coast by providing easy access to the hotels and lodges in the region. Visitors to South Coast will not be required to use Likoni channel crossing, which has been associated with serious delays.
The bypass will pass through the proposed Dongo Kundu Free Trade Zone, which will create massive employment opportunities to the local communities as well as to the country in general.
The Japanese government is preparing to award the multi-billion shilling tender for the second phase of dualling of Dongo Kundu bypass. The Sh25 billion contracts, which is set to be awarded to the lowest bidder, will see the upgrade of the 8.9-km road starting in August and run for four years.
“The tender for the second phase of Dongo Kundu bypass which stretches between Mwache Junction and Mteza will be awarded towards the end of June and is set to start by August,” the Kenya National Highway Authority (Kenha) general manager for special projects David Muchilwa was recently quoted in the press. JICA is financing the project.
The second package starts at Mwache Interchange at the intersection with the package I and terminates at Mwangala on the southern mainland. The new road will consist of a dual carriageway starting from the Mwache interchange, 4km from the Mombasa – Nairobi Highway and 5km from the New Container terminal at Kipevu, Mombasa Port.
The road runs in a southerly direction from the Mwache interchange for 4.0km crossing the Mwache Creek through Tsunza peninsula before turning eastwards across the Bombo and Mteza Creek. The total length of the package II project road measures 8.96km.
The third package starts at the end of the Mteza Bridge approach of the Mwangala where it intersects with the package II and terminates at Kibundani on the southern mainland.
The total length of the package three road measures 6.86km. Works for package II and III is expected to commence soon. Once complete, the bypass will connect the Nairobi – Mombasa highway to South Coast at Kibundani along the Likoni – LungaLunga Highway.
Construction of the second phase of the second container terminal at Mombasa port is expected to commence this year.
