Traffic snarl-ups in Thika town and its environs will end once construction of the 15-km Del Monte-BAT bypass is completed.
The Sh1.8 billion project is nearing completion; it is 80 per cent done. The road is being built by the government, through the Kenya Urban Roads Authority. It links the Thika-Nyeri highway to Garissa highway through Del Monte.
The road is expected to be commissioned in June, according to Thika Town MP Patrick Wainaina. The MP and his Gatanga counterpart Joseph Nduati inspected its progress on Tuesday.
Residents and traders welcomed the new development. They were upbeat about the end of their suffering due to congestion and poor road networks.
“Our clients have been seeking services in other areas outside Thika town because of the inconveniences caused by traffic congestion. We, however, hope that our businesses will resume and boom,” said Patrick Makau, who owns a wholesale shop in Thika town.
Wainaina said the road will end perennial traffic jams, boost business and open the region for more investment. Improved transport will greatly benefit industries in the town, he said.
"Thika has been experiencing unending traffic snarl-ups, which have seen many businesses shift to other towns like Juja, Ruiru and Kenol in Murang’a county. This road is critical in resuscitating the town’s glory as Birmingham of Kenya by boosting trade and investment,” Wainaina said.
Nduati shared similar sentiments, emphasising that the road will boost intercounty trade between Murang’a, Kiambu and Machakos. “Farmers will now transport their products to markets in Murang’a, Machakos, Kiambu and even Nyandarua with ease. This road will have a great economic impact for our region,” he said.
Meanwhile, construction of the Nampack-Umoja-Mid oil link road is underway, with proper drainage being put in place.
Wainaina urged Umoja village residents who have encroached on the road corridor to remove their structures to pave the way for the works.
“Kura has already directed all residents and investors who have put up structures on the road corridor to remove them or else they will be removed at their own expense. I appeal to them to heed the directive because the road is being constructed for their benefit,” Wainaina said.
He also disclosed that the Kenya National Highways Authority (Kenha) has agreed to build two new interchanges leading to Thika town to end traffic jams on Thika overpass and the Blue Post overpass that link Thika Superhighway to Garissa road and Gatanga road respectively.
The authority will also expand and dual Thika-Kenol and Thika-Garissa highways.
“Kenha has promised to upgrade and redo the Thika-Kenol highway into a dual carriageway to ease traffic and reduce accidents on this stretch of the road. They did also promise to expand Thika-Garissa highway all the way to Kilimambogo, with the first phase of the project going up to Ananas Mall in Makongeni,” Wainaina said.
The roads will open up Thika town—a major transit point into Mt Kenya, Lower Eastern and Northeastern regions.
“Thika is an industrial hub for this country and we expect more investments to come up as a result of a convenient road network once the highway is expanded and the bypasses are complete,” Wainaina said.
Edited by F'Orieny
