A new footbridge along Mbagathi Way was officially opened by Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) for pedestrian use on Sunday, August 1.
The footbridge features a spiral design on both ends. This design is distinctive, setting it apart from other bridges in the city and greater metropolitan areas.
It is largely seen as the connector between Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) and Mbagathi Hospital. The spiral shape is meant to accommodate those using walking aids as well as regular pedestrians commuting across the link road.
Moreover, students and staff from both Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) and Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) are expected to have an easier and uninterrupted safer commute.
“The Mbagathi Way Footbridge is officially open for public use, we urge Pedestrians to fully utilize the facility in a bid to improve their safety as they cross the road,” tweeted KURA.
Over the years, the road authority has been faulted because the road lacked service and emergency lanes, footbridges, and road markings.
However, this project is part of KURA’s planned network of footbridges to be erected along Lang’ata Road, Ngong Road and Mbagathi Way. These roads are reported by NTSA to have a high number of pedestrian fatalities.
In an annual report by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) in 2019, Nairobi alone was reported to have 74 black spots, Mbagathi Way prominently featuring in the list.
In February 2020, about 320 traders were apprehended as law enforcement officers fast-tracked an operation to decongest footbridges in Nairobi. These designated areas had been reportedly taken over by traders, boda bodas, street families, beggars and, in some extremities, muggers.
This new bridge is built to mitigate the above-mentioned problems as its design is only applicable to walking commuters.
