What’s the one place you’ve placed your feet and new at that moment that you had stepped on a rich ground?If you haven’t then save up and travel to this location that entered Kenyan history of having the most expensive road.
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.
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 Sh115 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.
“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.
Do agree that this roads can cost as much as they do?