Government to construct three footbridges along Mombasa Road
The Ministry of Roads and Transport has announced that construction of three footbridges along Mombasa Road, in Nairobi County, will begin first week of May.
Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Infrastructure Kipchumba Murkomen revealed the three footbridges that will be located at the southern bypass interchange, Syokimau railway, and Katani junction at a cost of Sh1.2 billion.
He said the aim of constructing them is to minimize road traffic accidents and ease traffic flow and pedestrian crossing.
“The expected commencement date for construction is May 1, 2023,” he said in their submissions to National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure on Wednesday.
The CS said Kenya National Highways Authority (Kenha) shall continue to install more footbridges at appropriate locations upon the allocation of more budget.
The ministry was responding to a question by Machakos County Women Rep Joyce Kamene.
The lawmaker wanted to know whether the government was planning to build footbridges along an approximately two-kilometer stretch of Mombasa Road, especially at the Hilton Garden Inn crossing and Syokimau Railway Station/Nairobi SGR Terminus and the stretch between KAPPA and Mastermind.
In 2019, Kenha said Mombasa Road ranked Nairobi’s deadliest road due to the indiscipline of motorists and the impatience of pedestrians.
Since the completion of the 27 kilometre Nairobi Expressway last year, Mombasa Road has become impassable due to a lack of non-motorized infrastructure and potholes endangering the lives of Kenyans and motorists using the road.
This has been worsened by the heavy downpour making it hard for pedestrians to cross the road due to flooding and drainage challenges.
Although the government says the contractor is on site, repairs works are yet to start.
Appearing before parliament, Murkomen said the footbridges will take 30 months to complete.
He said due to budget constraints only three footbridges will be constructed as opposed to the five that were discussed during the public participation exercise.
In November 2022, Kenha announced it will construct five additional footbridges over the Nairobi Expressway in a bid to improve the safety of pedestrians.
The use of digital traffic lights will be rolled out on a trial basis in the next few months in Nairobi and along the northern corridor to support the enforcement of traffic regulations.
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