Traffic along a major city highway will be disrupted after the government announced that it would be demolishing a junction that as part of a Ksh16 billion road project.
In a notice carried in the local dailies on Thursday, April 30, Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) announced that it would demolish the existing Railway Over Bridge at Project Road Chainage along James Gichuru - Rironi Road Project.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, a representative from Kenha, Charles Njogu, explained that the junction to be demolished had existed since independence and that the new project had its own guidelines.
"As you do the road, there are several improvements you need to build and some of the improvements are doing a fresh railway crossing," he explained.
The authority explained that the move was necessary because its construction did not follow the project's requirements properly.
The diversion is expected to take effect beginning in May 2020.
"The existing Railway Over Bridge (ROB-1) at Project Road Chainage km 32+770 (Rungiri)/ Railway Chainage km 557.150 on A-104 highway has to be demolished and reconstructed as per the requirement of James Gichuru - Rironi Road Project (A8 Highway)," read the statement in part.
The changes are expected to disrupt traffic along the highway connecting Nairobi and Nakuru.
"The traffic on both directions (Nairobi/Nakuru bound) will temporarily be diverted on 'Diversion with a grade-level crossing' to close the Railway Track," added the statement.
Motorists on the highway were, therefore, asked to observe the caution signs showing barrier gates that would be closed every time a train was expected to pass by.
"Please wait for the train to pass. After the train passes, the gates will be opened by traffic marshals to allow the crossing of traffic," advised KeNHA.
Further research showed that the entire project was estimated to cost in the upwards of Ksh16 billion ($163 million).
KeNHA, in January, had revealed that 30% of the project, a 25.3-kilometer road expansion project located partly within Nairobi and Kiambu Counties, was already complete.
The project began in August 2017 and was to be completed within a period of 36 months.
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