Motorists using Nairobi’s busiest transport corridor are facing significant travel disruptions this weekend. The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has issued an urgent public notice announcing a 24-hour temporary closure of a critical section of Mombasa Road (A8) and the Nairobi Expressway.
The coordinated shutdown is scheduled to take effect from Saturday, June 13, 2026, at 10:00 PM to Sunday, June 14, 2026, at 10:00 PM.
According to the roads agency, the closure is mandatory to facilitate the installation of fabricated footbridge beams for the ongoing Airtel Footbridge project. The engineering operation requires lifting heavy structural steel across both the highway and the elevated expressway lanes, making the stretch entirely impassable for safety reasons.
Exact Areas Affected by the Closure
The 24-hour construction window will completely isolate a key bottleneck of the industrial transit corridor. The specific areas locked down include:
Mombasa Road (A8): The Mombasa-bound carriageway between the Airtel Complex and General Motors (GM).
Nairobi Expressway: Both carriageways (CBD-bound and Mlolongo-bound) will be completely closed to traffic between the Airtel Complex and General Motors nodes.
THE CONSTRUCTION CLOSURE ZONE
[From Nairobi CBD] ──► 🛑 [AIRTEL COMPLEX] ──► (NO ENTRY ZONE) ──► [GENERAL MOTORS]
│
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
▼
[EXPRESSWAY STATUS] ──► BOTH CARRIAGEWAYS BLOCKED BETWEEN AIRTEL & GM
Detailed Traffic Diversion Plan: How to Navigate the Shutdown
To mitigate massive traffic gridlock, KeNHA’s traffic management team, in coordination with the traffic police department, has outlined several mandatory diversion loops.
1. Outbound Motorists (Heading from CBD toward Mombasa/Cabanas)
Drivers moving away from the city center toward Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Syokimau, or Cabanas will be diverted off the main highway before reaching the construction zone.
The Route: Vehicles will be rerouted near the Shell station area onto Likoni Road. Motorists will then proceed along Enterprise Road through the Industrial Area before rejoining the A8 Highway at the General Motors (GM) junction to continue their journey.
2. Inbound Expressway Motorists (Heading toward the CBD)
Commuters attempting to enter the Nairobi CBD from the Mlolongo/Athi River side via the elevated toll road will face restrictions.
The Route: The Expressway will be blocked at the Cabanas section. Traffic marshals will redirect vehicles onto the lower Mombasa Road carriageway. Alternatively, drivers approaching from the Mombasa-bound side can utilize the Ole Sereni Interchange to bypass the construction bottleneck before reconnecting to their final destinations.
TRAFFIC DIVERSION LOGISTICS
Mombasa-Bound Drivers CBD-Bound Expressway Drivers
┌───────────────────────────────┐ ┌───────────────────────────────┐
│ • Diverted at Shell area. │ │ • Exited early at Cabanas / │
│ • Take Likoni Road. │ VS │ Ole Sereni Interchange. │
│ • Follow Enterprise Road. │ │ • Guided onto lower carriageway│
│ • Rejoin A8 Highway at GM. │ │ by on-site traffic marshals.│
└───────────────────────────────┘ └───────────────────────────────┘
Prioritizing Pedestrian Safety Along the Corridor
While the weekend closure presents an immediate logistical headache for logistics firms, airport commuters, and weekend travelers, KeNHA has emphasized that the infrastructure project is vital for public safety.
The installation of the Airtel Footbridge beams is part of a structural safety framework designed to reduce pedestrian fatalities. The stretch between the Airtel Complex and General Motors has historically been flagged as a high-risk zone, with pedestrians frequently attempting to cross the multi-lane highway amidst high-speed traffic. Once completed, the footbridge will offer an elevated, secure crossing spanning both the lower highway and the Expressway.
Summary of the KeNHA Traffic Advisory
Operational Metric Official Directive Details
Closure Duration Exactly 24 Hours
Timeline Saturday, June 13 (10:00 PM) to Sunday, June 14, 2026 (10:00 PM)
Primary Project Installation of fabricated steel beams for the Airtel Footbridge
Key Stakeholders Deployed National Police Service & KeNHA Traffic Marshals
Strategic Advice for Commuters This Weekend
With the temporary closure cutting through the main artery connecting the capital city to the coastal region and the international airport, travelers are urged to adapt their schedules early:
Factor in Delays: Expect significant congestion along the Enterprise Road and Likoni Road diversion loops as heavy commercial trucks and public service vehicles pack into the Industrial Area corridors.
Early Airport Departures: If you have scheduled flights out of JKIA between Saturday night and Sunday evening, leave your residence at least two hours earlier than standard transit matrices dictate.
Cooperate with Marshals: The authority has warned that overlapping or attempting to bypass safety blockades will trigger immediate vehicle impoundment. Follow the instructions of the active security teams stationed at the Airtel and GM interchanges.
By planning trips around the 24-hour construction window, Nairobi residents can bypass the worst of the weekend gridlock while allowing engineering teams to safely lock the new pedestrian infrastructure into place.
