The Nairobi Express Way linking the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and James Gichuru Road has continued to take shape, with Kenyans keenly keeping tabs on the multi-billion project.
Questions have, however, emerged from among members of the public over the possible fate of the Ksh362 million footbridges along Mombasa Road.
Residents of Nairobi have asked the Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA) to ascertain as to whether they will be demolished or the road tailored to accommodate them.
From images seen by Kenyans.co.ke, the road and footbridge intersect, with the distance between the two raising questions as to whether the bridge would remain viable.
Taking to social media, members of the public sought to establish the fate of the Bellevue and GM footbridges.
"The footbridge is lower so it might remain as it is. Though it depends on the road layout plan," Amos Saina opined.
"The express highway will fly over the footbridge leaving a space which is enough for human passage," another added.
"The footbridge will remain. You only need 2100 mm clearance. The bridge and the other opposite GM cost the taxpayer a whopping 363 million and it would be hard to bring them down without providing alternative means of crossing the busy highway," Silvans Sokel opined.
Kenyans.co.ke established that the GM footbridge would be demolished to pave way for the road, with KeNHA expected to provide alternative means for pedestrians to cross the road.
Director-General Engineer Peter Mundinia revealed that new bridges would be constructed to replace the existing ones. He stated that the South C footbridge would be spared.
As the construction of the superstructure takes shape, members of the public anticipate an impending decline in the traffic jam menace experienced along Mombasa Road.
In less than a year, the construction is quickly unfolding from what was a concept to a towering piece of infrastructure that will soon be floating along with one of Kenya’s busiest road corridors.
The question of footbridges, however, poses grave challenges with Kenyans decrying intrusion into pedestrian walkways by motorists and hawkers.
For instance, on Mombasa Road, all footbridges are boda boda cycling lanes (as pedestrians opt to cross at dangerous sections). On the Airport North Road, hawkers dominate the footbridge where they display their wares.
Kenyans have since appealed to relevant authorities to ensure safe footpaths for pedestrians in the capital.
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