The Thika 'Superhighway' has continued to receive bashing from a large section of users starting Thursday evening after some of its sections became impassable.
This led to motorists being asked to avoid these sections that include Muthaiga, Pangani, the area near Thika Road Mall among others which culminated to heavy traffic along the roads the motorists were diverted to. For many, completion of the triple-dual carriage Thika superhighway few years ago, was something worth the millions of shillings that the government had spent on the noble project.
However, some years later the much hyped superhighway has continued to be a disappointment to many users for the following reasons.
Endless traffic: You will be forgiven to think that the highway is free from traffic jams till you happen to be using the road during rush hours. Many users will agree that the road experiences heavy traffic near Ruiru toll station, JKUAT junction, Muthaiga area, Pangani among other sections. It is very rare to find no traffic in these sections during rush hours with exemption of weekends.
Accidents: The road, since its completion has claimed hundrends of lives due to what many have come to attribute to structural failure. It is just towards the end of 2015 when Kenya Mpya buses gained notoriety for massacaring several travellers along the superhighway.
High maintenance cost: The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) early last year announced a budget worth millions of shillings that will go towards regular maintenance of the road. While the intention is good, many still wonder why so much should be spent on a road which has failed in its main goal; eliminating traffic.
Drainage system: This is perhaps the latest deficiency that none of us had seen coming till it started to rain heavily. Various sections of the road are currently impassable and a traffic hazard to motorists following the Thursday evening downpour. Though the situation is being blamed on many factors, the fact remains that it is happening on one of Kenya's most revered highways.
Maybe it is high time we called the Chinese back to redo the road before we know what the many flyovers and underground road tunnels in the highway hold.