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Thika Road interchange takes shape as footbridge contractors slumber – PHOTOS

By Hilary Kimuyu September 19th, 2019 2 min read

It has taken only six months for the contractor who is remodelling a section of the Thika Superhighway under the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (Kura) for the work to be visible.

On the other hand, the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) contractors, who are building four footbridges along the highway, has done little in the past 18 months.

DELAYED PROJECT

Sinohydro Construction Company, which has been tasked to do the Ruaraka interchange by Kura, has so far completed 94 percent of the work.

A section of the Ruaraka interchange which is nearing complete. PHOTO | FRANCIS NDERITU

Meanwhile, KeNHA, who awarded the contract to Interways Works Limited and Fourways Construction Limited last March, are still lagging behind after they opted to have the bridges welded in China instead of the work being done locally.

A construction worker takes a break at the on-going construction of a footbridge by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) along the busy Thika Superhighway at the Survey Junction. PHOTO | FRANCIS NDERITU
A construction worker takes a break at the on-going construction of a footbridge by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) along the busy Thika Superhighway at the Survey Junction. PHOTO | FRANCIS NDERITU

Kenha has blamed the delay on a slow pre-export inspection of the importation of Sh820 million Chinese built footbridges.

Pedestrians cross the busy Thika Superhighway at the Garden City Junction right next to an on-going construction of a footbridge by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA). PHOTO | FRANCIS NDERITU
Pedestrians cross the busy Thika Superhighway at the Garden City Junction right next to an on-going construction of a footbridge by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA). PHOTO | FRANCIS NDERITU

Plans to install the footbridges have been on the cards since August 2017 amid questions why Kenya opted to build the bridges in China.

The footbridges are being built at Survey of Kenya – just before the junction to the Kenya School of Monetary Studies -, the Garden Estate Junction, Witeithie, and Mang’u areas.

Pedestrians cross the busy Thika Superhighway at the Garden City Junction right next to an on-going construction of a footbridge by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA). PHOTO | FRANCIS NDERITU
Pedestrians cross the busy Thika Superhighway at the Garden City Junction right next to an on-going construction of a footbridge by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA). PHOTO | FRANCIS NDERITU

DISRUPTED TRAFFIC

Interways Works Limited is constructing the Witeithie and Mang’u footbridges at a cost of Sh430 million while Fourway Construction Limited is building the Survey of Kenya and Garden City footbridges at a cost of Sh390 million.

While commencing the construction of the interchange, Kura had to close a section of the road at GSU headquarters at the junction of Outering road and Thika Superhighway.

Last weekend, motorists who use the Thika Superhighway spent hours in a huge traffic snarl-up stretching for almost a kilometer as the contractor remodeling the road closed the inbound main highway to erect overpass beams.

The closure disrupted traffic flow on the expressway as all vehicles heading out of Nairobi towards Thika and those joining or leaving Outer Ring road had to squeeze themselves on the two lane Ruaraka overpass.