• He further instructed the department to proceed on sensitizing the public and road users
• Installation of road signs and improved marking of road bumps will be done to enhance the safety of road users.
Image: PCS
Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has ordered that at least four footbridges be constructed along the Thika Super Highway.
The CS said the installation of the footbridges will ease movement of pedestrians and also curb the rising number of accidents along the busy highway.
According to Murkomen, the Kenya National Highways Authority will build the bridges at Juja Highpoint Stage near Centurion Hotel , Kihunguro Section, Juja Mona Park Area, and Clay works/Northlands.
"Additional footbridges are planned for installation at different sections of Thika Superhighway and engineering design has been done," Murkomen said.
The CS was responding to questions by Ruiru MP Simon King'ara on the state's safety measures along Thika Road.
Murkomen told Parliament on Wednesday that the government is also employing multiple other measures to curb accidents along the road.
They include sensitization of the public and road users on the use of designated crossing points and passenger picking and dropping points, and installation of road signs.
He also said the government is improving marking of road bumps to enhance the safety of road users.
"In order to encourage pedestrians to use the footbridges consistently, improved lighting has been installed to enhance security," he said.
"Fencing along the median of the Superhighway has been done (at critical areas) and is constantly under maintenance and repair by the PBC (Performance Based Contracting) contractors to ensure pedestrians use designated crossing points."
The CS said the operators of public service vehicles have been encouraged to pick and drop the passengers at the designated areas by the highway patrols, which are performed by road maintenance contractors engaged by KeNHA under the Performance Based Contracting approach.
"Already, KeNHA and the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) have made preparations to jointly conduct more public sensitizations regarding the proper use of roads to avoid endangering lives," he said.
Regarding the Eastern Bypass, Murkemen said the construction is at 90 per cent complete with major works complete including the second carriage.
He said the installation of permanent road signs is planned to start at the beginning of 2023.
"Permanent road marking is programmed to start soon after completion of a final layer termed as “surface dressing” within the first quarter of 2023," Mukomen said.
Currently Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) is said to be arranging stakeholder engagement forums on the most critical sections that will include bodaboda associations, matatu SACCOs, NTSA, Area residents and Area Chief.
The intended outcome of the public consultations will be to determine the exact location to construct the two new footbridges.
King'ara asked that footbidges be installed at the Green Valley Estate and Githunguri Primary/Secondary School.
The MP said several residents, including children have lost their lives while crossing the busy road.
Following the completion of stakeholder engagement and user satisfaction with deliberations of the exact locations, construction will commence.
The above is targeted to begin within the first quarter of 2023.