Construction of Meru Multibillion Bypasses Still on course, Says Authority

Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) has assured Meru residents that the multibillion bypass roads project within Meru Town will be completed by December 2019 as scheduled.
KURA Director General Eng. Abdul Rashid allayed fears that the project had stalled urging Meru residents to be patience since the construction works were still in top gear.
Speaking after an inspection tour of the Sh. 2.9billion project on Wednesday, Eng. Rashid stated that the project was already 86 percent complete with a little delays being prompted by the construction of bridges that required more time.
“The eastern and Western bypasses are almost 95 percent and 76 percent complete respectively. The whole project is about 86 percent complete with the total amount of Sh 2.3billion having been spent to date for both construction and compensation,” said the DG.
He clarified that once the bridges on Eastern bypass were completed the remaining parts especially the road starting from Gitimbine through Irinda to Giantune that seem to be causing worries among residents, will be fully done.
Eng. Rashid cited compensation for residents whose pieces of land paved way for the bypasses and the presence of infrastructural facilities such as water pipes and electric poles as one of the challenges experienced in the project.
“About 80 percent of the road was done where no road existed before hence calling for heavy compensation,” said the DG.
He lauded the project which is financed by the Government of Kenya and the World Bank saying its benefits were already being experienced with many residents having established estates for income generation.
The bypasses according to residents will help ease the incessant heavy traffic jams experienced within Meru Town.
By Richard Muhambe