Motorists using the Thika Superway may soon start paying a toll fee if Parliament approves a proposed bill to amend the laws on roads, Roads PS Micheal Kamau has said. He the user tax will be used to repay the construction cost and maintenance of the road. Speaking during an inter-ministerial tour of the project yesterday, Kamau said toll charges machines have already been built on the highway after Ruiru on the way to Thika.
The
PS, who was accompanied by his Transport counterpart Cyrus Njiru, said the superhighway will be opened by President Kibaki on November 9. He added that a coordinating team has been set up at the Kenya National Highways Authority to oversee the completion of the project.
The construction of the superhighway was partly funded by the African Development Bank and the Export and Import Bank of China through a concession. The completion date of the project has been extended more than thrice because of the additional works on the project, delayed payment and slow relocation of utility service lines.
The Sh33.4 billion project which commenced on January 29, 2009 was set to have been complete by June last year. The project, which is 96 per cent complete, has outstanding works which include the dualling of Kipande and Limuru roads and an access road to Harry Thuku Road from Waiyaki Way.
These works, which had originally been factored in the project are aimed at easing traffic on Uhuru Highway, University Way and Forest Road. The works being carried out by China Wu Yi as part of Lot 1 are expected to be complete on December 20, November 20 and 31 October 31 respectively.
Other additional works include Thome roads, reinstatement of Juja Farm access road, re-carpeting of Kasarani road from the overpass, reinstatement of Githurai-Kimbo and Ruiru- Githunguri roads. The last lot being carried out by Shengli Engineering Construction Group include the approach road to the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and internal roads inside Mangu High School.
In a project overview brief progress report seen by the Star yesterday, the three contractors have blamed delayed payment for their financial constraints which affects the pace of work. The project implementation team leader John Mwatu said most of the civil works are complete.
“The only remaining road furniture as per the original contract are footbridges at Pangani, KIE/Desai road and new matatu stages at Ngara, the technical school in Kariokor and University Way. Others are road studs, a few road signs which is ongoing, street lighting and power connection and control pillars, tunnel lighting in underpasses and overpasses which will be through by the end of October,” he said.