Motorists held up in a traffic jam on Nairobi's Thika road. PHOTO | FILE
Speed bumps and zebra crossings along Thika Superhighway will be removed to ease traffic flow on the eight-lane road that has witnessed massive congestion in the recent days.
Transport secretary James Macharia says zebra crossings will be replaced by footbridges expected to cost Sh300 million.
Mr Macharia said the superhighway has about 10 zebra crossings which have hampered smooth movement of vehicles, creating huge traffic on the road.
“We are going to remove all the zebra crossings and the speed bumps along the superhighway in order to ease traffic flow on that road,” said Mr Macharia.
He noted that the work should start in the next three to six months as the government is moving with speed to address the traffic snarl- up on the superhighway.
The bumps and pedestrian crossings were put on the road to curb high cases of accidents on Kenya’s major road.
Recent statistics released by transport agency indicated that 70 people die annually along the superhighway compared to 30 along Jogoo Road.
The CS said matatus are also to blame for the congestion along the road as they have turned the bumps along the section of the superhighway as a drop off and pickup points for passengers.
“These matatus have to be stopped by all means. They have turned speed bumps into a stage for picking and dropping passengers,” he said.
He spoke Monday during the flagging off of 40 patrol vehicles and five ambulances. The government, through national Treasury gave these cars to the National Transport and Safety Authority to increase patrols across the country.
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