Transport

Salgaa-Mau Summit Sh750m expansion to start next month

salgaa

Salgaa area along the Nakuru-Eldoret highway is prone to accidents. file photo | nmg

The Sh748million tender for the dualling of Sobea-Salgaa-Mau Summit road on the Nakuru-Eldoret highway has been awarded.

The 22-kilometre contract awarded to a Chinese contractor, China Railway No. 10 Limited will see works on the road start mid next month and run for one year.
Sobea and Salgaa areas along the Nakuru-Eldoret highway are notorious for accidents.

“Works on the road is set to start mid-May for a period of one year. There will be minimum traffic disruption as alternative lanes are always provided,” said the Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA) assistant director in charge of communications Charles Njogu.

Mr Njogu, who was speaking to Shipping and Logistics on Monday in a telephone interview, said the scope of the work will include construction of dual carriage way at the climbing lane section and separation of traffic, as well as installation of jersey barrier.

The design also provides for the construction of a lorry break checking point at the beginning of the 10-kilometre descend to check the braking systems of vehicles on the road.

READ: KeNHA picks Chinese contractor to build dual road on dreaded Salgaa stretch

The stretch will also be erected with road signs including both informatory and warning signs.

The section on the Nakuru-Eldoret highway has been synonymous with gruesome accidents that have claimed hundreds of lives over the years.

Last December, 36 Kenyans lost their lives at Salgaa area along the Nakuru-Eldoret Highway.

This prompted the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to impose a night travel ban for public service vehicles which was then lifted by the High Court Judge Chacha Mwita.

The Salgaa accident involved a truck and bus and it happened at Migaa area around 3.30am. The bus was travelling towards Nakuru and according to witnesses, the driver left his lane and collided with an oncoming trailer.