New bridge to clear North Coast jams

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The Nyali bridge with padestrians walking following traffic jam by motorists. Most of the people decide to walk in order to avoid staying on the jam for hours. Photo/LABAN WALLOGA 

By EUNICE MACHUHI emachuhi@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Monday, March 19  2012 at  22:30

IN SUMMARY

• Warnings sent to Tamarind Village and palatial island mansions said to be on road land

An exclusive hotel and dozens of palatial homes will be knocked down to pave way for a second bridge linking Mombasa Island to the mainland North Coast.

Among the properties targeted is Tamarind Village, which sits on the narrow limb of the Mombasa harbour channel, the site once occupied by a floating bridge built in 1931, but dismantled in 1980 when the Nyali bridge was built.

The Kenya Urban Roads Authority (Kura) said on Monday that the new bridge would help ease congestion and traffic flow in the town.

The news will excite thousands of Mombasa residents, visitors and commuters who spend many hours in the jam daily due to congestion on the Nyali Bridge, the only permanent link between the island and the mainland.

The bridge also opens into Malindi Road that leads to Kilifi, Malindi and Lamu — popular tourist destinations.

The roads authority has already put on notice proprietors of the Tamarind Village, which comprises exclusive apartments. The main gate to the premises has been inscribed with a maroon “X”.

However, the popular seafood restaurant, The Tamarind, adjacent to the village is not affected.

“We are just reclaiming our land. They (Tamarind) know where the bridge passed before they constructed the premises,” Kura public relations officer John Cheboi said on Monday.

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Tamarind Village general manager Lisa Uku refused to comment. “I am sorry I can’t comment. Kindly call our head office in Nairobi and you will be directed to the right person,” she said.

Most of the demolitions will take place on the island where much of the land reserved for the bridge access has been turned into palatial homes.

The area is adjacent to Allidina Visram Secondary School and is accessed through Abdel Nasser Road on the island. One of the marked properties is a white palatial home that straddles the seafront.

Earmarked for bridge

It sits atop the access road to the bridge and only the old pontoon mooring structures betray the fact that the site was earmarked for the bridge.

Mr Cheboi said the authority was preparing quit notices for individuals who had encroached on the road reserve.

Last week, Roads Minister Franklin Bett told Parliament that he had written to the Lands ministry to revoke the land titles.

He was responding to Kisauni MP Hassan Joho who had sought to know whether the minister was aware of the encroachment on the road reserve at English Point in Mkomani and Allidina areas and the measures taken to reclaim the land for public use.

Mr Joho also wanted the minister to confirm the ownership of the land and table the documents.

Mr Bett, referring to the approved survey plan of 1997, said five parcels of land lay on the road reserve.

“Nevertheless, I will table ownership documents as soon as my ministry is furnished with information,” he replied.

Mr Joho said he had raised the matter with President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga several times because of security reasons and congestion on the Nyali Bridge.

“But I am happy that Kura has taken up the issue. I know many politicians will oppose this, but they (Kura) should not be intimidated,” he said on Monday.

Mr Cheboi said the authority had invited bids for designs of the proposed bridge.