Motorists warned off Kampala-Entebbe Expressway

Motorists and cyclists have again been told to stay clear of the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway until it is officially open to the public.

In a strongly worded notice in Wednesday's New Vision, contractor China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) warned that offenders could be prosecuted.

"It's illegal and prohibited to use the Expressway before it's officially opened to the public and offenders will be criminally held responsible for any accidents and damages on the road infrastructure in the courts of law," reads the notice.

As works on the expressway are in the final stages, some Ugandans have found the lure of using Uganda's most architecturally designed road irresistible. For some, it is the eagerness to beat the sometimes unforgiving traffic jam on Entebbe road, while for others; it is just for the fun and thrill of it.

In January, the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) issued a similar warning.

"The expressway is under construction and we regard it as a construction site for now until works are fully complete. It is therefore not safe for vehicular traffic.  We can imagine, the need to use it an over bearing feeling for the motorists but we call for patience until the road is handed over," Allan Ssempebwa, UNRA's media relations manager told the New Vision then.

The 51 kilometre long Kampala-Entebbe Expressway is tentatively scheduled for completion in November 2017.

The project, with a spur to Munyonyo will comprise construction of a four lane dual carriageway of a 37.23km road connecting Kampala-Northern Bypass at Busega with the existing Kampala-Entebbe road at Abayita Abababiri (Impala). Another 14.13 km road will connect Munyonyo through Lweza.

An expressway is a road designed for high speed traffic, with restricted entry and exit points, is expected to be completed in May next year.

It is expected that upon completion a drive from Kampala to Entebbe on the high-speed expressway will last between 30 to 40 minutes.

Currently a drive to Entebbe from Kampala on the existing road takes about two hours mainly because of traffic jam. Over 80% of the civil work is complete.