Gov’t allocates Ksh 20M for construction of Golbanti bridge in Tana River

Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) will construct a Sh20 million reinforced concrete slab single-lane bridge in Golbanti, Garsen constituency.

Residents are currently using the Ngao footbridge, which is limited to pedestrians, motorcycle riders and livestock.

“Majority of the road users requested for a permanent bridge, where vehicles including heavy trucks could be crossing for easy access of goods and services, rather than offloading and reloading goods to cross the river tributary,’’ said KeRRA regional manager Eng. Patrick Mbaabu during the County Development Implementation Coordination Committee (CDICC) meeting Monday.

Subsequently, the government heeded the residents’ call for the bridge to be located in Golbanti to serve more communities in the vicinity including Kipao village.

And now the bridge design which was done in-house by KeRRA engineers is readily awaiting the report of the geotechnical investigation.

“The geotechnical investigations which will be done by the material department has been delayed due to the prevailing high river water levels and unconducive weather conditions in the upstream of River Tana catchment areas,’’ explained Eng. Mbaabu.

However, he revealed that the material team has since reported on the proposed site of the bridge and drilling commenced Sunday.

The geotechnical investigations report will guide the extent to depth the pile foundations will be drilled and inserted.