THE Kenyan government
will start construction of
the first cable car project
on the Likoni channel
in Mombasa County in
November.
The project will cost
KES5,5bn (R693m) and
is expected to ease traffic
between Mombasa and
the popular holiday resort
of Diani in the South
Coast.
Over the years, hoteliers
and tour operators in
Diani have attributed low
business to transport
challenges on the Likoni
channel, triggered by
frequent ferry breakdowns.
Diani is popular with
foreign holidaymakers
because of its scenic
coastline, which is also
ideal for snorkelling and
scuba diving. However,
tourists heading to the
South Coast from Moi
International Airport,
Mombasa, face delays
when crossing the Likoni
channel due to the ageing
ferries.
Kenya Ferry Services
MD, Bakari Gowa, says
a concession agreement
for the construction
of Likoni crossing has
been finalised. He
says the project will be
implemented through a
public-private partnership
and will take 18 months to
complete.
He says the cable cars
will transport 80 000
passengers a day, easing
the burden on the ferries.
The five ferries transport
more than 300 000
people and 6 000 vehicles
per day.
It is estimated that the
Likoni Express Cable car
will take two and a half
minutes to cross the
500m stretch. Currently,
ferries take between five
and 10 minutes to move
passengers across the
channel but breakdowns
cause delays of up to 40
minutes.
Twenty-two cable
cars, each carrying 38
passengers, will make nine
trips per hour.
