President Yoweri Museveni will Wednesday this week preside over the official groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Kampala Flyover project.
Construction for the Kampala Flyover, the first of its kind in Kampala city, is set to begin in January next year.
Three months ago, Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) signed a contract with Shimizu – Konoike JK, the firm that was contracted to do Lot 1 of the construction work. The entire project was divided into two Lots: 1 and 2.
President Museveni is expected to perform the official groundbreaking for the project on Wednesday at midday at the Nakivubo Blue Primary School Grounds in downtown Kampala.
Lot 1 will cost government Shs 300 billion. The project was financed using a loan by the Japanese International Corporation Agency (JICA).
According to the terms of the contract, Shimizu – Konoike JK was given until January to mobilize equipment and the other resources required for the works to commence.
Lot 1 of the Kampala Flyover project measures half a kilometre in length and will covers Clock Tower, Shoprite and Nsambya road junctions. Other components entail upgrading of the already existing infrastructure – widening of the 0.5km long Queensway, improvement of the Entebbe road (0.2km) and widening of Nsambya road (0.4km).
New pedestrian bridges will also be established at Clock Tower, Shoprite and Kibuli while the junctions at Shoprite and Clock Tower will also be upgraded.
Government says that the flyover and the other developments around the mega project will alleviate traffic congestion within the Kampala CBD and Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (GKMA).
Implementation will be jointly done with KCCA and that adequate traffic management measures will be put in place to avoid major traffic disruption.
As of September, UNRA reported that up to 65% of the land required for the construction had been acquired and that by the end of 2018, acquisition will be at 80%.
Lot 2 will cover the Kitgum House area at the Jinja Road junction with a flyover stretching 2.9kms. Construction is set for 2019 after JICA has availed the additional financing required.
This lot will also see the Mukwano Road, Jinja Road, Yusuf Lule Rd, Nile Avenue and Access roads widened. The feasibility study has already be prepared.