Official says roads will take 24 months to complete at Sh1.5 billion

Senior Kenya Urban Roads Authority surveyor Victor Biko (left) and Thika MP Patrick Wainaina (second left) and other officials view a map of the proposed Thika bypasses. [Photo:Kamau Maichuhie|Standard]

The Government has set aside Sh1.5 billion for construction of  two bypasses in Thika town.

The first phase will see the 10km bypass starting from Garissa road through Kivulini-Kisii-Kiganjo-Athena-Witeithie to Thika Super highway constructed.

The second phase will see the 15km from Kenyatta Highway through Munene industries-UTI-Pilot-Umoja-Kenyatta leather to Garissa road put up.

Speaking in Thika during a stakeholders meeting in the town, Jacinta Mwangi,  Kenya Urban Roads Authority (Kura) central region manager said the two bypasses will take 24 months to be completed.

Speaking during the identification of road corridor, a senior surveyor at Kura Victor Biko said the two by-passes will go a long way in decongesting Thika town.

“With the new bypasses, Thika town will no longer be experiencing heavy traffic snarl-ups... Motorists coming from Garissa road headed to Nairobi and those coming from Nyeri, Embu and Meru headed to Garissa will no longer be required to pass through the town,” said Mr Biko.

Thika MP Patrick Wainaina commended the Government for setting aside the budget to construct the two bypasses, saying they were long overdue.

Mr Wainaina said with the two roads will help open up Thika town, which is Kiambu County’s main industrial hub.

He said by the virtue of being the biggest industrial hub in the county, Thika town deserved to enjoy proper infrastructure.

The MP called on investors who had allegedly grabbed road reserves to remove any strictures they may have constructed in order to pave way for the roads construction.

“The new roads will no doubt have a huge social economic impact in Thika town and its environs. As residents, we feel their construction have come at the right time since we are optimistic they will open up the area to more investments and development,” said Wainaina.

Matatu Tuk Tuk and Boda boda operators in the area have also welcomed the construction of the two new roads saying they will go a long way in lowering the cost of transport.

“When the construction of the two roads is complete, we will be relieved since we will no longer be visiting the garage every week to have our vehicles repaired as a result of poor road network as is currently the norm,” said Joseph Mwangi, a Tuk Tuk operator.