Six things to know about Kigali urban transport improvement project

The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group on December 4 announced that its Board of Directors approved a loan of $100 million (approx. Rwf140billion) to Rwanda for the implementation of Kigali Urban Transport Improvement (KUTI) Project meant for easing transport in and around the country’s capital. According to information from RTDA, project implementation period was expected to be five years from loan approval, with its overall cost estimated at $279 million (approx. Rwf386 billion). ALSO READ: Kigali to pilot dedicated bus lanes in six months The objective of the project is to enhance the efficiency, inclusivity and safety of road transport mobility. To that end, it seeks to address a growing urban mobility problem and a high volume of traffic that Kigali has recently witnessed, requiring significant adjustments to urban transport design and systems, according to AfDB, which is the project financier. Congestion and long queues are prevalent at most major junctions [especially during peak periods], increasing travel times, disruption, and traffic conflicts, the bank pointed out, observing that the immediate project area is the city of Kigali, which has a population of 1.7 million that is expected to grow to 3.8 million by 2050. The lack of an inclusive urban mobility system, such as dedicated bus lanes, a non-motorised transport system and limited integration between different public transport networks, exacerbates transport problems and has led citizens to opt for motor-cycle taxis, the number of which is increasing in urban areas, putting users at risk of serious accidents, as per the bank. “The project will focus on improving three of the seven crucial junctions identified as bottlenecks so as to have more efficient, sustainable and user-friendly urban transport infrastructure,” said Aïssa Touré Sarr, the African Development Bank's Country Manager for Rwanda. The following are six things to know about the project. Proposed intervention or developments at seven junctions The project aims at improving transport infrastructure and services in the City of Kigali, including the upgrading of seven selected junctions namely Chez Lando, Gishushu, Gisozi (at an area called Kinamba), Nyabugogo, Rwandex, Sonatubes and Kibagabaga. ALSO READ: Revamped Amahoro Stadium: How will traffic be managed on match days? For Chez Lando Junction, a technical feasibility study commissioned by RTDA on behalf of the Government of Rwanda in conjunction with AfDB, recommended the construction of a 740 metre (m) long underpass (UP) tunnel grade separation, signalisation and geometric improvement for the road KN5 Rd, according to Rwanda Transport Development Agency’s (RTDA) environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) for the project, dated July 2024. Grade separation refers to road crossing or junction using an underpass or overpass. For Gishushu Junction, the recommended intervention consists of construction of 500m long flyover (FO) bridge (including an approach section) for grade separation and geometric improvement for KN5 Rd, as per the environmental and social impact assessment. Concerning Sonatubes Junction, the construction of 620m long underpass (UP) tunnel as a grade separation, signalisation and Geometric Improvement for KN3 Rd, were recommended by a technical study. For Rwandex Junction, the proposed intervention shall comprise of construction of a new four-lane bypass for throughway traffic of KN3 Rd, at northern Gikondo wetland, two ramp bridges (with Bridge1 covering 112m, and Bridge2 covering 592m) separating the upper and lower lines in order to minimise the impact on the Gikondo wetland development area. Kibagabaga Junction could see the widening of the road KG11 Av into a four-lane road and improvements be made to the geometry of the right-turn lane from KG 11 Av to KG 19 Av, while for Gisozi Junction, a plan to improve the traffic capacity on the main road of KN8 Av, and construction of 540m long flyover (FO) bridge, were recommended by the study. For Nyabugogo Junction, the recommended option will involve a construction of a new two-lane flyover for throughway traffic of the road NR1 Rd, construction of a new two-lane flyover for throughway traffic of the road KN7 Rd, construction of 400m new road section which will constitute Nyabugogo Bypass, and junction improvements associated with those works. Easing movement of persons with disabilities (PWDs) The project design is expected to include aided facilities on the road for the PWDs, such as braille traffic light with sounds and pedestrian push-button that can be used by both the sighted and visually impaired, Accessible Pedestrians Signals (APS) that communicate information about pedestrians timing in non-visual format such as audible tones, verbal messages and/or vibrating surfaces and parking signs. Other features to be considered include short ramps from carriage way to the walkway to ease mobility of PWDs, ensuring that drainages are covered to protect PWDs from accidents, and short distances between road crossovers to ease mobility for PWDs. Designated bus lanes Designated bus lanes (DBLs) are expected to be considered in the project design to promote public transport over [individual] private transport, according to RTDA’s ESIA. This is meant to address concerns over lack of such lanes on current roads. The DBL options could comprise separate lanes dedicated only for buses, or turning some normal lanes to DBLs during peak hour times and/or installing traffic lights with sensors that prioritise lanes with more bus numbers, all as a means of encouraging use of public transport over private means. Designs could also consider wider roads that can allow easier turning of the big buses now being used in the City of Kigali. ALSO READ: Transporters push for dedicated lanes for public buses Cyclist lanes There are concerns that no special lane reserved for bicycles exists on current roads, exposing cyclists to accidents, RTDA’s ESIA indicated. To deal with the issue, cyclist lanes are set to be included in the design as part of the Non-Motorized Transport (NMT) facilities under the project. NMT facilities are proposed at the key junctions where pedestrians, bicycles, and automobiles are separated from each other by forming a traffic space network independently of walkways and cycleways, RTDA’s environmental and social impact assessment indicated. As part of traffic signals at crossovers, the option of cyclists cross over with minimal impact on waiting time for motorists, and proper lighting of these junctions to ensure the safety of cyclists even at night, are set to be included in the project. Design of NMT facilities may follow proposed requirements in the Kigali NMT master plan 2023-2032, it pointed out. Overhead pedestrian bridges Overhead pedestrian bridges can also be installed at junctions where accessibility to surrounding facilities is required in the city center. This is intended to minimise pedestrian-vehicle interaction and accident risks. People to be affected and compensation RTDA’s Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) for the project, dated July 2024, cites an asset inventory and valuation of property which estimated 664 people could be affected by the project implementation (they are referred to as Project Affected people – PAPs), of which 109 will be physically displaced and 555 economically affected. Of those economically affected, 298 PAPs own the property while 257 PAPs are tenants. Land that will be acquired in total is 63,527 square meters, while structures likely to be affected are 77 main houses, 15 annexes, 29 fences, 33 parkings. Majority of those structures are at Nyabugogo and Kibagabaga junctions, it indicated. The estimated total cost of full replacement compensation of all property likely to be affected, including a 5 per cent disturbance allowance as per 2015 expropriation law, amounts to more than Rwf24 billion (over $18 billion equivalent), while a livelihood restoration budget is over Rwf950 million (over $700,000), it showed. The latter covers transition costs for businesses that shall be disrupted by paying a six-month rent for the businesses economically displaced, and upgrading of modern selling points at Nyabugogo, Kibagabaga and Sonatubes.

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Six things to know about Kigali urban transport improvement project