Final designs of the US $155.6m first dual carriage road in Meru County, Kenya are complete. According to Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA)‘s Upper Eastern Regional manager Sheikh Takoy, property owners along the 13.8km 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.
Construction of the dual carriage will see demolition of several high value buildings along the route. Mr Takoy further assured affected property owners that they would be compensated in accordance with the law.
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First dual carriage road in Meru
The road cuts through Meru town from Gikumene, three kilometres from the town along the Meru-Embu road to Gitoro Conference Centre near Meru National Polytechnic along Meru-Nanyuki road. The project also includes a 4km section from Makutano to Ruiri junction on Meru-Maua road.
The government is currently sourcing funds for the project. Leaders in Meru have said they will push the government to source funds for the project which has potential to transform the fast-growing town.
According to Charles Njogu, KeNHA assistant director corporate communications, the dual carriage will also have pedestrians walkways as well as foot bridges. It will connect both the eastern and western bypasses which originate at Gikumene and have been built by the Kenya Urban Roads Authority’s at a cost of US $27.6m.
The 8.8km western bypass links motorists to the Meru-Nanyuki road at Gitoro while those travelling to Maua and the National Park take the 12.6km eastern bypass, linking the Maua-Meru road at Kaaga Girls high school.
