Motorists using Eldoret-Nakuru and Eldoret-Malaba highway have been asked to utilize the Eldoret bypass which is now complete.
Uasin Gishu County Police Commander Ayub Gitonga Ali says the motorists en route to Nakuru or Western Kenya and have no engaements in Eldoret town shoul consider using the by-pass.
In an interview with Uasin Gishu News, Ali notes that by using the 32 kilometers bypass, it will help address traffic congestion that Eldoret town has been witnessing, especially this festive season.
“We have had more motorists this festive season, we urge those on transit to use the by-pass which is now open instead of congesting the Uganda road with the Eldoret town centre,” said the county police boss.
The Ksh5.6 billion Eldoret bypass has not yet officially been opened with a few final touches including markings and signage still remaining.
The bypass starts at Cheplaskei, approximately 13 kilomtres from the centre of Eldoret Town and follow a north-westerly direction traversing the Eldoret-Kapsabet-Kisumu Road at Kapsaret.
Further, it crosses D288 and continues on the general alignment, linking again with the Eldoret-Malaba Road (A104) at Maili Tisa near the junction to Kitale.
Eldoret traffic congesiton
Jointly funded by the National Government and the African Development Bank (AfDB), the bypass project was aimed at reducing traffic congestion within the main highway that cuts across Eldoret town.
The highway is used by long distance trucks that transport cargo from the Mombasa Port, and Naivasha Dry Port to neighbouring countries.
However, the trucks will be required to use the bypass, a move that is expected to ease traffic on the highway within the town.
“This will be by diverting most of the traffic away from the commercial centre,” Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA) said when announcing a plan for the bypass in 2018.
Meanwhile, the trucks are yet to be diverted into the bypass as it has not yet been gazette as a transit route. However, other motorists are allowed to use the bypass even as contractors work on finalizing the project.
