Thika Road

The A2 (Thika Road)

Thika Road (commonly known as the Thika Superhighway) is an 8-lane controlled-access highway in Kenya, linking the capital city of Nairobi with the industrial town of Thika. The Thika Road forms the first 50 km of the A2 Highway, which links Nairobi to the Ethiopian border town of Moyale.

Underpass at the A2, Kenya

Construction

As industrial development increased along the A2 Highway, the existing road became very congested. It took 2 hours to drive the 50 km to Thika, and road accidents were common. A superhighway would make the drive safer and allow the trip to be completed in just 40 minutes.[1]

The Thika Superhighway was begun in January 2009 and inaugurated in November 2012. The highway was divided into three parts, each awarded to a different contractor. China Wu Yi built the section from the Uhuru Highway to Muthaiga Roundabout, Sinohydro built from Muthaiga Roundabout to Kenyatta University, and Shengli Engineering completed the highway to Thika.[1]

The total cost of the project was Ksh 32 billion (US$360 million). Funding was provided by the African Development Bank (US$180 million), the Exim Bank of China (US$100 million), and the Kenyan government (US$80 million).[1]

The section between Muthaiga roundabout and Ruiru town is considered to be a part of the Nairobi Northern Bypass, connecting to Limuru Road.[2]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Nairobi-Thika Superhighway, Kenya". Road Traffic Technology.
  2. ↑ "China gives Kenya Sh8.5 billion for Nairobi bypasses" Kenya Engineer, January 30, 2008
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