This archive report was first published on 14 January 2020.
January 14, 2020, marked a significant milestone for the people of Meru as the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) embarked on a crucial exercise to prepare for the construction of a dual carriage road in the town.
The authority is undertaking soil and rock testing along an eight-kilometre dual carriage corridor cutting through Meru town, a move that will inform final designs expected to be completed by March.
According to Albert Semutwa, the upper eastern regional manager of KeNHA, the exercise is a material testing that will help engineers come up with final designs.
"What you have seen going on is material testing that will help engineers as they come up with final designs," Mr Semutwa said in a telephone interview.
Leaders in Meru have expressed their commitment to pushing the government to source funds for the road, estimated to cost Sh5 billion, when President Uhuru Kenyatta visits the county later this month.
The construction of the dual carriage road is expected to improve traffic movement in Meru town, which is predicted to become a transport hub in the upper eastern region due to its strategic location between Nairobi and Isiolo.
The dual carriage road will also provide space for pedestrians as well as foot bridges, said Charles Njogu, KeNHA assistant director of corporate communications.
"The existing road is currently a single carriageway bitumen road with shoulder on majority of the sections with no adequate provision of non-motorised traffic (NMT) along the project road section," he said.
