A section of the Mombasa Southern bypass has been closed down for two days by Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) after part of the new road infrastructure touching on Moi International Airport developed cracks.
In a statement, the Authority warned motorists of a temporary closure of the Miritini- Mwache-Kipevu road for a period of 48 hours to allow for necessary monitoring and further engineering interventions.
“A limited section of the cut slope along the said road and adjacent to the Moi International Airport fenceline has been observed to exhibit movement as a result of previous moisture ingress and unfavourable subsurface conditions,” read the statement from KeNHA Director General Peter Mundinia.
The temporal closure of the road started at 7 pm on Sunday evening and motorists have been advised to use the Miritini-Kwa Jomvu-Mombasa road as an alternative route.
Most affected will be the access of the Mombasa Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) Miritini station given that the train services resume this morning.
KeNHA, through its Assistant Director of Corporate Communications Charles Njogu, noted that the Moi Airport is also experiencing a similar phenomenon on slopes away from the road construction.
“Seems like a geological phenomenon over a wide cross-section. Our engineers have moved to site this evening. Traffic at the section port bound has been diverted to one lane over a section of 800 metres,” Mr Njogu said.
Frequent users have cited that the cracks have been at the road section for over three weeks.
