Thursday 19 November 2015

Two days massive traffic jam between Mombasa and Nairobi

The traffic jam is due to road maintenance


Kenyan traffic police have been deployed to try and ease a massive traffic jam which has lasted two days along the main highway between Mombasa and the capital, Nairobi. The road is crucial for the region's economy as it links the port of Mombasa to landlocked countries. The worst-affected area is around Taru, about 80km (50 miles) from Mombasa. Correspondents say the jam has been caused by repairs being done to the road after recent heavy rains.
Traffic jams are common in Kenya and are often caused by its badly maintained road network. Passenger buses and lorries taking goods to Nairobi and beyond were among the vehicles stranded since the jam began on Tuesday evening.


One motorist told Kenya's private NTV station that some had been stuck in the queue for 48 hours.
"I have not eaten anything. I am told there are so many vehicles held up in the traffic jam."
It is only the traffic heading towards Nairobi that is affected by the hold-up.
Some trucks that tried to turn off the single carriageway onto the scrub land alongside have become stuck in the mud. The BBC's Mohammud Ali Mohamed in Nairobi says there is a railway between Mombasa and Nairobi but it is old, unreliable and takes several days make the 500km journey. Those that can afford it - and do not have heavy loads - tend to fly between the cities as there are hourly flights, he says.

Source: BBC

No comments:

Post a Comment