The County government of Mombasa has imposed a temporary restriction on heavy goods vehicles from usage of busy roads during this festive season.
In a special gazette notice, Transport, Infrastructure and Public Works, the County Executive Officer, Taufiq Balala, halted heavy commercial vehicles from plying roads within northern mainland and Central Business District (CDB) areas.
Balala restricted movement of heavy goods vehicles in the roads within the two busy areas between 6:00am to 9: 30am and 4:00pm to 8:00pm.
“In exercise of the power conferred by section 26(1) (c) of Mombasa County Roads act, 2016, the executive committee in charge of Transport, Infrastructure and Public Works do hereby gazette the temporary restriction of usage of the Northern Mainland and Central Business District (CDB) roads of Mombasa County by heavy vehicles,” added Balala in the notice.
The temporary restriction imposed on Friday is expected to end January 6, 2022.
“For effective traffic management during peak hours and the busy festive period effective 24th December 2021, to 6th January 2022, both days inclusive,” the county gazette notice states further.
Vehicles with 10 tonnes have been restricted from using Nyali road, Fidel Odinga Road, Links Road, New Malindi- Mombasa Road within northern Mainland areas.
Most of these roads lead to famous Nyali and Jomo Kenyatta Public (Pirate) beaches expected to be visited by hundreds of revelers during the festive seasons.
The CBD roads include Digo road and Abdel Nasser and Sheikh Abdullah Farsi roads, Moi Avenue, Nkurumah and Nyerere Avenue.
The temporary restrictions have been necessitated by an influx of motorists and visitors trooping into the Coastal County to spend Christmas and New Year festive season.
The measure is also geared towards reducing cases of accidents with the County Government deploying its traffic marshals in strategic roads to control movement of the vehicles.
Many hotels and social places have been packed with revelers majority of them being domestic tourists with hoteliers expressing hope of booming business throughout the holiday.
By Galgalo Bocha
