By Khasacha Mwene
Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) has handed over the operation, maintenance and tolling of the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway to a contractor, M/S Egis Road Operation S.A. In press statement dated June 5, 2021, UNRA said it engaged the contractor through a competitive international bidding process.
“UNRA handed over the site/expressway to Egis on 24th May, 2021 to commence operation and maintenance services with the objective of providing high quality road management services along the Expressway, enabling value added services to the users of the toll road,” the statement reads.
It adds: “Accordingly, in the first 06 months, the firm will provide road safety facilities, expressway lighting, security services, axle-load control/monitoring system, routine road maintenance and emergency maintenance works to ensure an appropriate level of service excellence along the expressway to the benefit of its users, at all times. In a bid to boost local content implementation, the contractor has committed to sub-contract 30% of its operations to local companies and has mobilized local partners like Pinnacle Security Limited and Abubaker Technical Services. The company has further submitted a plan to increase the percentage of operations to local contractors.”
Safety and Security on the Expressway
UNRA said in order to ensure safety interventions in case of accidents and to assist motorists in case of breakdowns, Pinnacle Security is now patrolling the Expressway on a 24/7 basis.
“On stand-by are dedicated intervention vehicles including a fire truck, an ambulance and towing services. To reduce road traffic accidents, Egis will undertake to provide several safety improvements like rumble strips before the toll plazas for speed control, and additional traffic signs at accident-prone points including improvements in the drainage system to. to avoid water puddles.
The installation of new fencing along the entire expressway has been initiated to replace what was vandalized. Additionally, the installation of lighting along the entire route will also be carried out in accordance with the contracted time frame,” said UNRA.
Toll Collection
The roads authority said developments are underway to install the electrical infrastructure to ensure system functionality before the tolling operations. “Commencement of the tolling operations and the rates to be paid by the different road users shall be communicated to the general public after clearance from the Ministry of Works and Transport and the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. UNRA together with Egis will solicit for cooperation and support from all stakeholders in the implementation of the operation and maintenance services on the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway,” noted the Authority.
The Kampala-Entebbe Expressway connects Northern Bypass at Busega in the Ugandan capital city of Kampala to the country’s busiest airport, Entebbe International Airport (EBB). It is the first-ever toll road in the country.
The road has two lanes in each direction and comprises two road sections – a 36.94km-long section and a 12.68km-long link road. The speed limit on the expressway ranges between 50km/h and 100km/h. The 36.94km-long section is further divided into two parts. The first 24.9km stretch of the section originates at a point on the Kampala Northern Bypass between Busega and Masanafu intersections and runs along the new route before ending at Abayita Ababari Interchange.
The 12.04km section starts at Abayita Ababari Interchange and runs along the existing Kampala-Entebbe road, of which 7.4km was widened and 4.64km upgraded.
The 12.68km-long link road starts from the highway at Kajjansi Interchange and runs eastwards before ending at Munyonyo. The toll road has four interchanges at Busega, Kajjansi, Mpala and Lwaza. It also features 19 overbridges and 18 underpasses to provide access to the area around the road.
A total of three main toll plazas are built on the expressway at Busega, Mpala and Kajjansi. The Busega toll plaza features six toll gates, while the Mpala and Kajjansi have five gates each. Two suspension bridges, measuring 200m and 500m in length, were built over the Lubijji swamp in Busega and on the highway near Kyengera, respectively.
The highway also boasts of a 75m-long bridge at Kajjansi and a 1.45m-long suspension bridge over the Nambigirwa swamp. The Nambigirwa bridge is supported by 240 pillars installed to a depth of 55m and has a lifespan of 100 years. (For comments on this story, call, text or whatsapp us on 0705579994, 0779411734, 0200900416 or email us at mulengera2040@gmail.com).