The board of the African Development Bank (AfDB) approved the $120-million financing for the four-year Nairobi Outer Ring Road Improvement Project, in Nairobi City County, Kenya.

The project, which would start in 2014, involved upgrading the existing single carriageway road to a two-lane dual carriageway complete with service roads, grade-separated intersections, pedestrian bridges, walkways and cycling tracks over the entire length of the road.

On completion, the 13 km project was expected to directly enhance the traffic circulation and eliminate traffic bottlenecks to various economic activity centres, such as the industrial zone, and the vast populous residential areas of Eastlands, due east of Nairobi’s city centre.

AfDB Eastern Africa regional director Gabriel Negatu said the financing was “a mix of grant and loan” from the Africa Development Fund (ADF), with the Kenyan government being the counterpart financier of the project, the total cost of which was $130-million.

“The AfDB group will provide 89.8% financing for the total project through the ADF loan of $115.9-million and grant of $5-million. We believe that this road will not only reduce travel time from 45 minutes to 15 minutes but will transform the socioeconomic welfare of the people living along the transport corridor,” he noted.

The road traversed Nairobi’s East and North districts, serving an estimated population of at least 2.2-million, which represented some 70% of the Nairobi City County population. Other beneficiaries of the project included users of major city connecting arterial roads, namely the Nairobi–Thika highway, Eastern Bypass, Northern Bypass, Mombasa road and those connecting to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

Negatu pointed out that the key outcomes of the project would include improved property values arising from reduced congestion and an improved business environment for informal traders, owing to access to new market facilities and improved sanitation.

Other complementary civil works elements included 250 market stalls and associated sanitary facilities, the planting of 4 500 trees along the corridor, a children’s traffic safety park and three wellness centres for HIV/Aids and related illnesses.

It was further estimated that by improving the existing road, the yearly vehicular greenhouse gas emissions rates in tons for the corridor would drop by at least 70% owing to improved average traffic operating speeds along the project corridor, particularly with the expected integration of a bus rapid transit system by 2022.

“Our approach to this and every project that we have undertaken is guided by our commitment as a bank to realise inclusive and green growth in Africa. Under this project, at least 500 disadvantaged youth from the informal settlements will gain from an artisan training programme aimed at enhancing their skills to assure long-term gainful employment,” Negatu added.

The AfDB previously financed the successful completion of the 50 km Thika superhighway, which was jointly financed by China and the Kenyan government. The Outer Ring Road Improvement Project brought the total kilometres of road financed by the bank in the Nairobi metropolitan to 63 km.