Section of Thika-Garissa Road to be closed for 77 days

A section of Thika Road [Courtesy]

A section of the Thika-Garissa Road will be closed for 77 days, starting Wednesday, January 19, to allow for the construction of a box culvert at Kathuluni River, Machakos County.

The Kenya National Highways Authority (KENHA) says motorists will consequently use diversions that have already been set up.

KENHA Director-General Kungu Ndung’u said the nearly-three-month construction will end on April 5.

Box culverts are used to assist with drainage during rainy seasons. They are rectangular in shape and are generally constructed using concrete.

A box culvert under construction. [Courtesy]

The culverts can also be used as passages to cross the rail or roadway during dry periods for animals.

The 322-km Thika-Garissa Road links to Liboi, a town on the Kenya-Somalia border. Liboi is located 179kms from Garissa Town.

The route is often used by long distance truck drivers who transport cargo to the far-flung north-eastern counties, and even into Somalia.

Passengers shuttling between Nairobi and Garissa also frequent the route.