A footbridge on Thika Road. [Photo: constructionkenya.com]The Kenya National Highways Authority (KENHA) has announced plans to construct four new footbridges along the Thika Superhighway in an upgrade that will see the removal of speed bumps and rumble strips.KENHA Deputy Director Eng Cleophas Makau who said that the bridges would be built at Garden city Mall junction, Kenya School of Monetary Studies, Witeithie and the Mang’u Road junction well known as Njomoko."We plan to have at least eight bridges by the end of next year. I am now seeking funds from Belgium as this first phase has already been funded by the government of Kenya," said Makau on Thursday.Makau said that the work will start in January adding that the tenders valued at Sh822 million have already been awarded to Fourways Construction Limited and Interways Works Limited adding that priority had been given to those areas where accidents occurred frequently.All bumps and rumble strips will be removed from the road in an attempt to comply with the High Court ruling in February this year that directed that all bumps on the highway be removed. While issuing the ruling, Justice George Odunga said that the move would minimize traffic jams on the highway which was expanded to eight lanes to ease gridlocks.The number of footbridges on the 50-kilometre road will increase to 22 in an effort to tame the escalating pedestrian fatalities.Frequent users of the highway have been requesting more footbridges at spots like Gwa Kairu near Kenyatta University (Ruiru campus), the Toll Station near Ruiru Club, Juja High, near Ndarugo area at the Bob Harries/Nyacaba Road crossing and at Witeithie main stage.

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