KeNHA to Close Section of Thika Road

A section of the Thika Superhighway at Allsops
A section of the Thika Superhighway at Allsops
Simon Kiragu

The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA, on Friday, April 2, gave notice of a temporary closure of a section of Thika Road Superhighway

The agency said that it would temporarily close the service lane at the Ruiru Toll Station next to St Teresa of Avila Catholic Church. 

The closure would, however, last for one day only on Sunday, April 4, 2021, to pave way for road works and repairs on the busy superhighway. 

"KeNHA urges all motorists to exercise caution and patience while driving through road section on the aforementioned date of closure," the agency said.

Ongoing construction on an access road in Thika town.
Ongoing construction on an access road in Thika town.
File



Service lanes run parallel to the main road and allow local traffic to divert to certain premises. Where major roads are bordered by commercial or residential development, service roads are a safe way to allow vehicles to access the areas with little disruption to traffic.

Rehabilitation of Thika Superhighway commenced a few years after the road was constructed under the third President Mwai Kibaki in 2010. KeNHA and the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) both maintain sections of the road. 

Construction works included expansion, renovation, replacement of road signs, recarpeting of worn-out sections and erection of footbridges.

On August 8, a footbridge was installed at the Outering Road - Thika Superhighway overpass at GSU headquarters with another one installed earlier on at Thika Superhighway at Kenya School of Monetary Studies (KSMS). 

Motorists, however, raised concerns over the loose chippings which are used to reinforce and protect the tarmac on major highways.

They argued that the loose chippings caused damage to their windscreens and even lead to accidents. KURA, however, explained that the chippings would reserve the roads for several more years.

"The surface dressing involves road workers to spray the existing road surface with a coating of bitumen, then spread stone chippings on top. Motorists are advised to drive at the speed indicated near areas with loose chipping," KURA said. 

KeNHA workers conducting road maintenance work on Thika Super Highway
KeNHA workers conducting road maintenance work on Thika Super Highway
KeNHA
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