Confusion as Govt Removes Roundabouts

Confusion as Govt Removes Roundabouts

Confusion reigned in this morning following the move which some say has not been properly publicized.

In a bid to decongest city roads, drivers are now not allowed to make right turns on major roundabouts in Nairobi.

Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero announced the plan to do away with five major roundabouts in March.

Nairobi County Government introduced the new rules  to ease the perennial traffic gridlock in Nairobi County.

Governor Kidero, in a joint statement with Transport and Infrastructure Cabinet Secretary Eng. Michael Kamau, said there are 6 roundabouts where 70 percent of traffic builds up during rush hours thereby hindering smooth flow along the busy stretch.

“In order to improve the flow by about 30-40 per cent, five (5) roundabouts will be removed and substituted with signalized intersections,” Kidero said.

 

Analysis of routes to be carried out

The affected roundabouts include the intersection between University Way and Uhuru Highway, Kenyatta Avenue and Uhuru Highway, Haile-Selassie Avenue with Uhuru Highway, Bunyala and Lusaka roundabouts.

He further explained that the roundabout at Westlands will be configured to avoid right turning movements and traffic redirected accordingly.

“Congestion in Nairobi City is due to a transport system that has experienced exponential growth in vehicle population without commensurate expansion of road infrastructure. The situation has been worsened by inadequate public transport system with the capacity to ferrying the growing number of commuters within the metropolitan area efficiently.”

On this note Kidero said the County Government will enforce the Nairobi County by-Law that allows PSV to wait for passengers at terminals for a maximum of 40 minutes and 5 minutes at bus stops in order to address the problem and also streamline PSV operations in the city.

He added that there will be suspension of licensing of PSV’s on Nairobi City routes until a demand analysis of all routes is undertaken to justify issuance of additional licenses.

“We are alive to the fact that congestion situation in Nairobi requires immediate action but we are also aware that a one-off quick fix will not deliver the results Kenyans deserve and therefore the approach will be focused, consistent and systematic devoid of the fear to experiment, make mistakes and correct them.” 

By Tom Omulo.

 

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