The $ 330million project is well on course to be ready for use in 12 months. The project involves Widening of University Way to eight lanes from six, four lane fly over across Globe Roundabout, widening of Murang’a Road to six lanes, underpass at Pangani, flyover on Muthaiga roundabout and provision of footpaths.

On the Forest Road – Museum Road – Museum Hill roundabout section, construction works involves widening of Forest Road to six lanes from four lanes, widening of Museum Hill road to six lanes, provision of forked fly-over on Limuru Road and provision of footpaths.

The Muthaiga roundabout-KU section has been designed as a high-speed highway with limited access and exits. The improvements on this section include widening of carriageway to eight lanes- (Muthaiga – Kasarani) and 6 lanes (Kasarani – KU). Provision of service roads intermittently, construction of underpasses at Kahawa and KU, provision of interchange at GSU roundabout, flyovers at Kasarani and Githurai roundabouts, underpass at former Nakumatt Thika Road site, subway at Survey of Kenya and provision of footpaths.

KU-Thika section includes widening the carriageway to six lanes up to Juja and maintaining the existing provision of service roads, construction of six lane flyover at Eastern Bypass, intermittent service roads, underpass at Ruiru sports club and at Mang’u High School as well as provision of footpaths.

The widest section of the Nairobi-Thika highway, between Muthaiga roundabout and Roysambu, just beyond the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, consists of four express lanes on either side as well as two-lane service roads on each side. Construction on the 50km highway has been going on day and night and the three Chinese contractors are within schedule, according to a senior engineer at the Roads ministry.

The highway, which was mainly necessitated by perennial traffic snarl-ups, has six projects within it that are being worked on simultaneously. Multiple interviews with engineers at the Ministry of Roads and the contractor, but who are not allowed to give official statements on behalf of the project, also revealed the highway could drive "ordinary matatus" out of the road. "It is a road that will not accommodate the chaos and traffic indiscipline exhibited by matatu operators," said the government engineer. Already, Kenya Engineer learnt that a plan is being worked out on how matatus on the highway routes could be phased out and allowed to form a public transport company that will use buses. Such buses will be at various stages (bus bays) at an interval of five to 10 minutes.

"The owners, who will be shareholders, will be paid as per the kilometre travelled and not number of trips," says the highly placed engineer. However, he added, this could take several months after the highway is opened.