KSh 6.5 Billion Smart Traffic Lights To Be Installed In Nairobi By Korean Firms

Kenya Urban Roads Authority (Kura) is working with Korean firms led by Cheil Engineering Company Ltd to rollout Nairobi’s KSh 6.5 billion traffic lights project.

The firms are tasked with the implementation of the first phase of the project.

The contractor is expected to design the project, build a traffic management centre (TMC) and provide assistance during bid evaluation.

The contracted firm is also tasked with negotiation, and supervision of detailed engineering as well as support the preparation of operation and maintenance.

Kura Director-General Silas Kinoti said the project seeks to ease congestion in the city and promote road safety and enhance urban mobility.

For instance, the system will allow for a longer period of traffic flow from roads with the most vehicles.

“The entire project is expected to cost Sh6.5 billion and is funded by the Economic Development Cooperation Fund through Export-Import Bank of Korea,” Kinoti said.

According to Nation, the second phase of the project will involve junction improvement and installation of intelligent transport system (ITS) facilities at 81 intersections.

In 2020, President Uhuru Kenyatta disclosed that the Nairobi Metropolitan Services would converge the new system with the additional traffic lights as well as redesigning and signalizing 25 additional traffic intersections.

“The control centre will utilise traffic cameras and censors and harmonise location data to provide a synchronised signal at 100 new junctions in addition to the existing traffic lights,” he stated at the time.

The Head of State said the new traffic system will incorporate the Intelligent Transport System (ITS), which uses artificial intelligence to manage urban traffic.

The ITS has already been successfully piloted at several major junctions outside the city centre including on the Western Ring Road from Yaya Centre through to Kileleshwa Ring Road extending to Waiyaki Way.