By Robert Mutasi 
Thousands of motorists and residents who rely on Nairobi’s busy Eldoret Road are expected to face severe traffic disruptions after the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) announced the temporary closure of a key section of the road for four months to facilitate the construction of a new vehicular bridge across the Nairobi River.
The closure, which takes effect from 6 AM on Monday, May 18, 2026, until 6 PM on Friday, September 18, 2026, is expected to heavily impact movement for commuters travelling through Ngara, Pangani, Eastleigh, and surrounding estates that use the road daily to access the Nairobi Central Business District and other parts of the city.
In a public notice issued on Monday, KURA said the temporary closure is necessary to pave way for the construction of a modern bridge over the Nairobi River, a project expected to improve connectivity and ease traffic congestion once completed.
“We wish to notify the general public that a section of Eldoret Road, Nairobi, will be closed as from 6 AM Monday, May 18, 2026, till 6 PM Friday, September 18, 2026 (Four Months),” KURA stated in the notice.
The authority added that the closure would allow contractors to undertake critical works related to the vehicular bridge project.
“This is to allow the contractor to undertake the construction of a Vehicular Bridge across the Nairobi River,” the authority added.
The announcement has already sparked concern among motorists and business operators who fear that the closure could worsen congestion in an area already notorious for traffic jams during peak hours.
Eldoret Road is considered a strategic urban corridor linking several densely populated residential and commercial zones to major roads within the city.
The route serves thousands of matatus, private vehicles, delivery trucks, boda bodas, and pedestrians daily.
Transport analysts warn that diverting traffic from the affected section could pile immense pressure on surrounding roads, particularly within Eastlands and nearby feeder routes.
Residents from Ngara, Pangani, Eastleigh, and sections of Jogoo Road are likely to experience longer commuting hours as motorists scramble for alternative routes.
Following the announcement, KURA advised drivers to use parallel local streets within the Eastlands area and other nearby major connectors to access Jogoo Road and arterial roads located north and south of the closed section.
Motorists have also been encouraged to use alternative routes through Ngong Road, Mbagathi Road, Lang’ata Road, and inner connector roads depending on their destinations.
To minimise confusion and maintain traffic flow, KURA announced that traffic police officers and road marshals would be deployed along the affected corridor throughout the construction period.
The authority also apologised to members of the public for the inconvenience likely to arise from the temporary closure.
“We apologise for the inconvenience caused as we endeavour to transform urban mobility,” KURA said.
Despite the expected traffic chaos, the project is being viewed as a major infrastructure improvement aimed at modernising Nairobi’s transport network.
According to road authorities, the new vehicular bridge over the Nairobi River is expected to improve connectivity, reduce travel delays, and enhance accessibility once completed.
The bridge project is part of wider road expansion and beautification programmes currently being undertaken across Nairobi by KURA and the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA).
The government has in recent years intensified efforts to improve mobility within the capital through road upgrades, construction of bypasses, expansion of highways, and beautification of major roads.
Among the notable ongoing projects is the extensive beautification and upgrade programme stretching from James Gichuru Road to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), which seeks to enhance both traffic flow and the appearance of Nairobi’s transport corridors.
Even so, city residents are expected to endure months of frustrating traffic snarl-ups and delays before the benefits of the Eldoret Road bridge project can finally be realised.
For many commuters, the coming four months are likely to test patience as Nairobi grapples with yet another major road closure in one of its busiest urban corridors.
George Mwangi