To combat the rising number of traffic accidents, the government has announced plans to build a footbridge at High Point in Juja.
The increasing number of accidents in which people have been killed or injured while attempting to cross the Thika Superhighway has alarmed the locals.
On Tuesday, engineers from the Kenya National Highways Authority accompanied Kiambu Governor James Nyoro on a visit to the region. He said that Sh389 million has been set aside by the government to build a footbridge.
President Uhuru Kenyatta vowed to find the money for the footbridge after the county chief stated he brought the citizens’ concerns with him.
“This project comes as a relief to thousands of residents living in Gachororo and High Point areas who were risking their lives crossing the Thika Superhighway. The President handled the matter with urgency when we raised it with him and the funds are intact and works will commence by the end of this week,” Nyoro said.
He stated that the project is currently in the procurement stage and should be finished in six months.
Before the project is finished, the governor said speed bumps, rumble strips, and a pedestrian crossing would be put in place to ensure locals can cross the road easily.
“We have resolved to erect speed bumps to curb rampant accidents that have caused injuries and at times deaths to our people as they navigate across the busy road as we wait for the completion of procurement procedures to have a footbridge constructed,” Nyoro said.
A month ago, residents led by Juja MP aspirant Aloise Kinyanjui held a demonstration to protest the removal of speed bumps at the spot in December last year, which led to a rise in the number of people knocked down while crossing the busy road.
They said besides the deaths and injuries, many small businesses and boda boda operators had been adversely affected.
