The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has announced the demolition of several high-value buildings to pave way for the 12 billion Meru dual carriage road.
Sheikh Takoy, the authority's Upper Eastern Regional manager, noted property owners along the 13.8 kilometer corridor who will be affected by the project had already been identified and notified.
“Valuation of properties has been completed. We are waiting for funds to kick-start the project,” he said.
Takoy did not reveal how much the property owners would be compensated but said the details would be announced soon and those affected would be compensated in accordance with the law.
The final designs of the multi-billion highway are ready awaiting the government to source for funds to kickstart the construction.
The construction of a dual carriage across Meru town will link the western and eastern bypasses. Both bypasses originate at Gikumene – three kilometres from Meru town along the Meru-Embu road – and have been built by the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) at a cost of Ksh3 billion.
The 8.8 km western bypass links motorists to the Meru-Nanyuki road at Gitoro near Meru National Polytechnic while those travelling to Maua and the National Park take the 12.6 km eastern bypass, linking the Meru-Maua road at Kaaga Girls high school.
The new road also starts at Gikumene across the town to Makutano where an interchange will be built, to Gitoro, connecting with the western bypass.
Another 5.4 km dual carriage will be built from Makutano, linking the eastern bypass at Kaaga Girls to Ruiri junction from where motorist can drive to Isiolo airport.
Upon completion, the road is expected to be the solution to frequent traffic snarl-ups in Meru town which has become a transit point with the growth of Isiolo and Nanyuki towns.
Apart from improving the traffic movement in the town, logistics experts predict it will become a transport hub in the upper eastern region, given its strategic location between Nairobi and Isiolo where a resort city will be built in the Sh2.5 trillion Lamu Port South Sudan Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) corridor project.
