Contracts awarded to transform Vryheid’s Lust, Annandale bridges for heavy duty vehicles
―each contract valued approximately $18M
―steel bridges to be replaced with concrete
Minister of Public Works, Hon. Bishop Juan Edghill, has said two contracts, each valued nearly $18 million, have been awarded to strengthen the load carrying capacity of the Vryheid’s Lust and Annandale bridges along the railway embankment.
The Minister made this disclosure during a site visit on Friday to the bridge at Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara where works are set to start soon.
Speaking with DPI, the Minister said the works will be done, “all in a view of creating these two lanes with a capacity to carry heavy-duty weight so on the main East Coast thoroughfare, we will end up having six lanes; four out on the main road and on this corridor, two lanes that would be running all the way from David Street all the way out to Enmore.”
Works on the Vryheid’s Lust bridge will be executed before those at Annandale, and will include the replacement of the Acrow panels along the bridge with a concrete surface. The schedule takes into account the increased traffic flow expected during the Christmas season. “While development is taking place, we’ve got to be mindful of people’s lives,” the Minister added.
Minister Edghill said the contracts are a demonstration of the Administration’s commitment to ensure the delivery and enhancement of goods and services.
He also expressed frustration at the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) for failing to ensure upgrades to community infrastructure under their control. The Minister said elected officials of NDCs collect taxes from citizens and ought to ensure that communities’ needs are met. The Government will not ignore negligence by NDCs, he added.
“As a caring Government, the Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali administration, we have to ensure that we bring development to all the people … every community must benefit because Guyana is for all Guyanese,” he said.
In his 2020 budget speech, Minister Edghill had pledged to replace all the Acrow panels along bridges on the railway embankment between Sheriff Street and the Hope Canal, with concrete. There are also plans to resurface the thoroughfare from Sheriff Street to Enmore.