Tharaka-Nithi Deputy Governor Nyaga Muisrael (right) county's Road Executive, Mr Giti Kijiru (second right)
By Our Correspondent
Worth Noting:
- One of them is redesigning the bridge and constructing a new one road to eliminate the sharp horizontal curves at the site as well as the steep gradients spanning three kilometers between Marima and Mitheru markets.
- The second option is the improvement of the old road locally known as Old Marima Road which is currently in murrum condition and which diverts just before the current Nithi Bridge from the Embu direction.
- “The government is determined to offer a permanent solution and the authority is now looking for the best solution and that is why we are here for a public participation session with the county government officials,” said Mr Njue.
Nithi bridge is set to be redesigned in a bid to drastically reduce the number of accidents.
To kick start the process, the Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA) officers yesterday held a consultative meeting with Tharaka Nithi County government officials over the issue.
Area Deputy Governor Nyaga Muisrael met the officers led by KeNHA’s Senior Land Valuer Njiru Njue and also visited the bridge which has over the years been blamed for killing and maiming hundreds of travellers.
The 50-meter-long bridge, along Meru-Embu highway which was constructed in 1985 will now be redesigned with the hope that the move will provide a lasting solution.
Addressing journalists after the meeting and visit, the KeNHA officials revealed that due to the nature of the mountainous terrain and the presence of the sharp horizontal curves, the road is unfavorable for the design speed and has limited sight distances making the section prone to accidents.
Several interventional proposals at play.
One of them is redesigning the bridge and constructing a new one road to eliminate the sharp horizontal curves at the site as well as the steep gradients spanning three kilometers between Marima and Mitheru markets.
The second option is the improvement of the old road locally known as Old Marima Road which is currently in murrum condition and which diverts just before the current Nithi Bridge from the Embu direction.
“The government is determined to offer a permanent solution and the authority is now looking for the best solution and that is why we are here for a public participation session with the county government officials,” said Mr Njue.
During the 2022 General Election campaign, President William Ruto promised to change the design of the bridge within his 100 days in office following a July 24, 2022 grisly accident involving a bus belonging to Modern Coast Company which plunged into the river killing 36 passengers and critically injuring nine others.
In August 2000, 45 people died and 27 were injured when a passenger bus crashed into the river and in 1998, 56 people on board a Stage Coach bus also perished at the bridge while as early as on Monday, a driver of a lorry lost control and the vehicle veered off the road into the valley.
Mr Muisrael said a lot of properties of big monetary value have been lost at the bridge through accidents and asked the national government to quickly offer a solution.
The Deputy Governor noted that the accidents have also caused trauma to the residents of the area who always respond to cries of people after they occur.
Further, the blood and other materials that are swept downstream after such accidents have also continued to contaminate the water that is depended on by thousands of residents.
“Those downstream sometimes learn of an accident at the bridge after noticing that water is turning red or seeing some floating debris of vehicle or other items. Sometimes back a fuel tanker crashed into the river and the fuel spilled into the river,” said Mr Muisrael.
He added that most of the people who die at the bridge are those who are not familiar with the scene because, from Nairobi’s direction, the road connects Tharaka Nithi, Meru, Isiolo and several other northern counties.
Tharaka Nithi County Roads Executive, Giti Kijiru asked KeNHA to collaborate in the installation of footbridges at risk spots along the road including Kangoro bus stop where very many people have been killed by speeding vehicles.
He added that though many speed bumps are discouraged on the highways, there is a need for the erection of a number of them between Kangoro and Chuka town where three family members were killed by a speeding vehicle last week.
“As the government works on solving the Nithi Bridge problem, there is a need for stakeholders to launch a widespread road safety sensitisation exercise,” said Mr Kijiru.
Locals residents have welcomed the move saying it was long overdue.
Ends……
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