The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has made significant progress towards addressing the hazardous conditions at Nithi Bridge, a notorious accident hotspot along the Makutano-Embu-Meru highway.
Following a site inspection led by KeNHA Director General Eng. Luka Kimeli, the authority is set to grant the contractor early access to the project site, marking a key step before construction begins.
New Bridge and Road Realignment to Enhance Safety
Instead of merely rehabilitating the existing structure, KeNHA plans to build a new elevated bridge with a completely realigned highway section. This will bypass the steep descents and sharp bends responsible for numerous fatal crashes over the years.
- The redesigned corridor will feature straighter road geometry to improve visibility.
- The new alignment aims to reduce brake failures, particularly for heavy commercial vehicles.
- Traffic flow is expected to improve, minimizing delays caused by frequent accidents at the current site.
Project Status and Impact
The project is in the final design phase, with engineers reviewing the proposed plans to ensure optimal safety and efficiency. Once all approvals are secured, the contractor will begin work promptly to avoid delays.
KeNHA emphasizes that the upgraded Nithi Bridge will provide a permanent engineering solution to one of Kenya’s deadliest road blackspots, supporting safer travel for motorists and contributing to regional socio-economic growth.
