Residents of towns along the upcoming Rironi-Mau Summit expressway are worried about pedestrian safety.
They have petitioned the Kenya National Highways Authority to ensure pedestrians are protected.
Scores of people have been killed by speeding motorists along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway due to the lack of designated pedestrian crossing points, they said. There are no speed bumps or footbridges.
Gilgil MP Martha Wangari said the road was critical to the economy of the country and would ease transport and increase business opportunities.
She supported calls for the footbridges to help reduce the high number of pedestrians killed along highways.
“We met with Kenha and we have raised the issue of footbridges next to major towns," she said.
Wangari also called for the construction of a trailer parking bay in towns like Kikopey and Salgaa to reduce congestion.
“We expect works by the French consortium to kick off in the next one month and this will be a game-changer for the region,” she said.
Wangari urged the contractor to consider local youths in hiring road workers.
Youth leader Peterson Kiarie said in the past youths were overlooked in job opportunities.
“The construction of this expressway will give us jobs and also lead to the growth of towns along the route,” he said.
Resident Ann Wambui called on Kenha to ensure pedestrians are safe.
“Many people have lost their lives through accidents on the current highway and we hope the design of the expressway will address this,” she said.
The Nairobi-Nakuru highway has been identified as one of the killer roads in the country due to the rising number of fatal accidents in several black spots.
(Edited by V. Graham)
