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Nairobi’s Intelligent Transport System (ITS) is close to helping ease traffic woes in Kenya. The Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) awarded the project’s consultancy contract to a Korean consortium led by Cheil Engineering Co Ltd on 5 May 2022.

The first phase of the Nairobi Intelligent Transport System and Junction Improvement project is to be implemented for Ksh548 million (approx. US$4.6 million). Cheil is the provider of engineering consultancy, architecture planning, and construction supervision services.

“The consortium will assist in bid evaluation, negotiation, supervision of detailed engineering design of the project, construction of Traffic Management Centre (TMC), [and supporting] the preparation of operation and maintenance,” KURA said.

Bidding for the main contract for Phase I will begin by August 2022. It will include the improvement of 21 junctions and the construction of the TMC.

KURA said Phase II will include junction improvement and installation of ITS facilities for 81 intersections and will begin later in 2022. The Phase II project is expected to cost about Ksh6.5 billion (US$55.5 million) and will be financed by the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) through the Export-Import Bank of Korea.

The plan recommended the formulation of an ITS (Intelligent Transport System) City Master Plan in order to establish a comprehensive plan to install ITS for Nairobi which would be supported by an Environment Improvement Program @MikeSonko#FridayFocus #NIUPlan #WorldCitiesDay pic.twitter.com/y9KcX8ZaNi

— Architectural Association of Kenya (@Arch_KE) November 1, 2019

The Intelligent Transport System will use artificial intelligence to manage urban traffic. It will make use of smart cameras, variable timing traffic lights and a control centre to monitor and control traffic. The traffic flow will also be monitored in real-time, thus allowing longer traffic flow in areas with heavy traffic and thus allowing shorter waiting times. The ITC will have three components – Advanced Traffic Management System, Advanced Travel Management System and Advanced Traffic Information System.

There will also be a mobile electronic police system that will allow flexible monitoring of general traffic flow.

The TMC design was completed in January 2021. Preparations are on for the ground-breaking of the facility, which will be constructed on 10 acres in the Canabas area on Mombasa Road. The TMC will house traffic police, city engineers and system specialists who will act on traffic flow data in real-time.

Top Photo: Ngong Road, Nairobi, Kenya (kura.go.ke)