The 27.1-kilometer road starts from Mlolongo passing through JKIA and Nairobi’s CBD to the James Gichuru junction along Waiyaki Way.

The road was commissioned for trials on Saturday by Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia.

Macharia said so far, 11,000 vehicles had been registered to use the expressway, in an exercise undertaken by Moja Expressway, the company managing the new road.

“The expressway is going to help decongest the city, we are excited to launch it this morning,” he said.

Macharia said the government is set to rehabilitate the old Mombasa road at a cost of Sh9 billion to also incorporate a Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) line.

Moja Expressway, a subsidiary of China Road and Bridge Corporation will operate the road for 27 years to recoup the money through toll fees.

By Fred Azelwa.