The Ministry of Roads and Transport has announced plans for the construction of three footbridges along Mombasa Road, MPs heard on Thursday.
Principal Secretaries Joseph Mbugua (Roads) and Mohamed A. Daghar (Transport) told the lawmakers the footbridges will be built at Airtel, Syokimau Railway Station and Katani areas.
“The expected commencement date for construction is May 1, 2023,” they said in their submissions to National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure on Thursday.
The PSs said Kenya National Highways Authority shall continue to install more footbridges at appropriate locations upon the allocation of more budget.
The ministry was responding to a question by Machakos County Women Rep Joyce Kamene.
The lawmaker wanted to know whether the government was planning to build footbridges along an approximately two-kilometre stretch of Mombasa Road, especially at the Hilton Garden Inn crossing and Syokimau Railway Station/Nairobi SGR Terminus and the stretch between KAPPA and Mastermind.
Mombasa Road is one of the deadliest of all the major roads in Nairobi.
According to the National Transportation and Safety Authority (NTSA), pedestrians on Mombasa Road have been knocked down at Bellevue, Enterprise Road, Panari, Standard Group, Enterprise Road, Imara Daima, Cabanas and the Airtel area among other spots.
In 2019, Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) said Mombasa Road ranked Nairobi's deadliest road due to the indiscipline of motorists and the impatience of pedestrians.
Last year in November, KeNHA announced it will construct five additional footbridges over the Nairobi Expressway in a bid to improve the safety of pedestrians.
In a statement, the authority said that the footbridges will be erected between Mlolongo and Southern Bypass Interchange and along the Westlands Section.
The agency also intends to put up pedestrian footpaths.
“The Authority is further committed to improving the safety of pedestrians and has planned a phased construction of additional five (5) pedestrian footbridges between Mlolongo and Airtel/Southern Bypass Interchange, and along the Westlands Section between Aga Khan School and the junction to Brookside Drive,” KeNHA said.
“Pedestrian footpaths are also included in the scope of works to be undertaken,” the agency noted.