Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia. FILE PHOTO | NMG
Mombasa’s Dongo Kundu Bypass is Kenya’s most expensive road,
having cost the taxpayer a whopping Sh2.7 billion per kilometre, the
Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has disclosed in a new
document detailing the cost of major roads countrywide.
The
nine-kilometre section between Mwache and Mteza or Phase Two of the
bypass is being built at a total cost of Sh24 billion, making it the
most expensive road in the country's history.
The road
has two major sea bridges spanning a total of 2.1 kilometres, which its
builders say were the biggest drivers of the high cost.
KeNHA’s
decision to publish the cost at which roads are being built countrywide
comes in the wake of rising concern over inflated pricing of
construction and its ultimate impact on public finance.
The Treasury has this year allocated Sh116 billion for road construction, making it one of the top recipients of public funds.
Challenging terrain
The KeNHA disclosures show that building roads in Mombasa costs
much more than similar work in other parts of the country and
contractors say that is because of the challenging terrain that often
requires heavy reinforcement.
The other two phases of the Mombasa bypass are also among the most expensive road projects in the country.
The 11-kilometre Phase One of the bypass between Miritini and
Mwache that was officially opened in June is priced at Sh1.15 billion
per kilometre, which KeNHA has attributed to difficult terrain and
security features, including a canopy on a one-kilometre stretch along
the Moi Airport boundary.
Phase Three of the road
covering seven kilometres between Mteza and Kibundani links the highway
to the Likoni-Lunga Lunga Road, and is priced at Sh571.4 million per
kilometre.
It comes with a sightseeing bay and 88 hectares of mangroves replanted along this section.
The
dual carriage 27-kilometre bypass is being constructed under the
Mombasa Port Area Road Development Project (MPARD) that aims at curbing
traffic congestion around the port, which has undergone expansion in
recent years.
“Road construction costs when stated on
per kilometre basis vary widely due to various factors… Certain
alignments require the construction of drainage structures such as
bridges and box culverts that carry a significant cost,” says KeNHA in
its report.
“Whether a road is situated in a rural or
urban setting (also) has a major bearing on costs, with urban
environments being significantly more costly.”
Other
expensive Mombasa projects are the dualling of the 2.6-kilometre
Magongo-Changamwe Road at Sh930.9 million per kilometre, cutting through
the densely populated commercial zone near the port.
The
11.3-kilometre Mombasa-Kwa Jomvu section of the Mombasa-Miritini
highway upgrade project is being undertaken at Sh532 million per
kilometre.
Western bypass
In
Nairobi, the costliest road per kilometre is the proposed Western
Bypass, which will take Sh965.9 million per kilometre for a total cost
of Sh17 billion.
The road that runs for 17.6 kilometres
between Ruaka to Gitaru will have four lanes and service roads on each
side as well as four interchanges at Wangige, Kihara, Ndenderu and
Ruaka.
It is meant to complete the ring of bypasses around the city, with the Northern and Eastern also in line to be dualled.
The
cost of the Western Bypass, which was first revealed two years ago,
caused an uproar as Kenyans compared it to that of the 12-lane Thika
Road, which was built seven years ago at Sh600 million per kilometre.
The
26-kilometre James Gichuru Junction-Rironi Road that is currently under
construction is costing taxpayers Sh629.5 million per kilometre.
The
dual carriage 28.5 kilometre Southern Bypass costs Sh659.3 million per
kilometre, attributed to the inclusion of 25 kilometres of service
roads, five major flyovers and street lighting along the way.
Land
acquisition costs have been blamed for the high cost per kilometre in
Nairobi, as is that of moving utilities such as electricity lines, water
and oil pipelines, fibre optic cables and sewers.
Roads
that have interchanges and flyovers also cost more, KeNHA says,
pointing to the three interchanges constructed in Nakuru County at
Sh580.8 million per kilometre — for a total of five kilometres.
Rural roads on the other hand are cheaper to construct, averaging between Sh10 million and Sh150 million per kilometre.
They benefit from lower land acquisition costs, abundance of construction materials and lower costs of relocating utilities.
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