Kenyans have registered their displeasure with the contractor assigned by Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) to maintain the Southern Bypass Road.
Motorcyclists who use the road have expressed concerns about the uneven surface and excessive loose chippings.
They expressed fear that the loose stones could lead to an increase in road carnage, posing a great danger to motorists and motorbike users along the 29-kilometer stretch.
“KeNHA is resealing the motorway using small, pre-coated aggregate. Because their contractor doesn't compact the resealed road adequately, they force us motorists to do this compaction,” Abdi Zeila complained.
Echoing Zeila's sentiments, another social media user commented, “Last week a boda-boda guy almost fell after tailgating a lorry. The chippings hit his face making him lose control.”
In most Kenyan roads, surface dressing, a process involving the application of a chipping aggregate with a bitumen binder, is carried out to increase the road's durability.
This technique aims to improve skidding resistance, thereby enhancing road safety, while also providing waterproofing and protection against water damage.
Immediately after surface dressing, a roller is used to press the chippings into the road's surface to ensure proper adhesion.
The contractor sweeps the excess chippings to ensure they don't pose a risk to motorists. Before opening the road to traffic, it is standard practice for contractors to remove around 90 per cent of the excess chippings.
KeNHA announced the road would be closed from Thursday, June 15, to Sunday, June 18, to allow the contractor to undertake surface dressing.
Kenyans online complained that motorists should not have been immediately allowed on the road before it was fully compact.
While floating tender for the road in 2022, KenHA directed, “the contractor to construct, install, and turnover to the employer, as covered under Rehabilitation Works, Improvement Works and Emergency Works.”
The rehabilitation involved the application of single seal surface dressing using 10/14mm pre-coated chippings on the entire road length.
Kenyans have urged KeNHA to instruct the contractor to promptly mark the recently maintained road and ensure the removal of loose chippings, aiming to restore the road's previous even surface.
