In bid to enhance safety for road users and improve service and access roads to facilitate evacuation and traffic movement in Kenya, the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) is planning to construct 19 bus stops and 7 footbridges on Outer Ring Road located in the east of Nairobi city.

Acting Director General of Kura Sila Kinoti confirmed the reports and said the decision was as a result of rampant accidents that have affected pedestrians along the road after its construction was completed in July 2017.

Most dangerous road in the city
In June last year, the Kenya National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) ranked the Outer Ring Road as the most dangerous road in the city. There have been 23 reported deaths of people between January and May last year along that road.

The Director General pointed out that the road lacks pick up and drop off points to be used by both public and private cars. Residents living along the road who were concerned for their safety, petitioned the Kenyan parliament to set aside funds for the construction of underpasses and footbridges in April last year because the road had several black spots.

The 13 km road was built by China's Wu Yi Company at a cost of US $84,000. Mr. Kinoti said that the authority will commence the project at cost of US $799,000 per foot bridge. Moreover, the authority earlier last year, had embarked on a US $8.8m project that saw 11 footbridges developed by the Chinese firm Sinohydro Tianjin Engineering Ltd.

Additionally, Mr Kinoti said that road projects under the Nairobi Regeneration Plan are 50% complete. The US $29m venture, which covers 38 streets in the East-lands, is as of now ahead of schedule.

Posted on : 11 Feb,2019