Infrastructure
Korean Firm Wins Deal for Nairobi Traffic System
The project is funded by EDCF via the Export-Import Bank of Korea.
A Korean consortium led by Cheil Engineering Co., Ltd has won a consultancy contract for the implementation of phase one of the Nairobi Intelligent Transport System (ITS) project, which seeks to ease perennial traffic congestion in the Kenyan capital.
According to the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (Kura), the Koreans will guide execution of the first phase of the Nairobi ITS & Junction Improvement project at a cost of Sh548 million.
“The consortium will provide assistance during 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 in a statement.
Based in Seocho, South Korea, Cheil is a well-known provider of engineering consultancy, architecture planning, and construction supervision services.
The company has previously carried out consultancy services for feasibility studies for advanced traffic improvement projects in Mozambique and Ethiopia.
Main contract
Following the awarding of the deal, bidding for the main contract, which entails improvement of 21 junctions and construction of a TMC, is now expected to begin by August.
The entire project is estimated to cost Sh6.5 billion – financed by the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) through the Export-Import Bank of Korea.
“Phase II of the project will involve junction improvement and installation of ITS facilities for 81 intersections and is expected to commence later in the year,” Kura said.
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The Intelligent Transport System applies artificial intelligence to manage urban traffic. It uses smart cameras, variable timing traffic lights and a control centre to monitor and control traffic – easing the burden on traffic police officers.
The system is able to study traffic flow data in real-time, thereby allowing longer traffic flow on roads with most traffic, thus minimising unnecessary waiting time.
Electronic police system
The smart traffic control system also comes with a mobile electronic police system that allows flexible monitoring of general traffic conditions.
In Jan. 2021, Kura said the design of the TMC had been completed and preparations were underway for ground-breaking works for the facility that will be set on a 10-acre piece of land in the City Canabas area on Mombasa Road.
The TMC will have several floors housing various stakeholders involved in traffic management in Nairobi including traffic police officers, city engineers, and system specialists who will monitor and act on traffic flow data in real-time.
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