East Coast road widening project 55 percent completed
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DPI, Guyana, Tuesday, January 22, 2019
The East Coast Demerara (ECD) road widening project is fifty-five percent completed, Technical Services Manager, Ministry of Public Infrastructure Nigel Erskine has assured.
So far, the contractor, China Railway First Group limited, has finished the construction of 14.2 kilometres of the reinforced concrete side drain and 473 metres of reinforced revetment. Five of the seven bridges along with the 10 culverts have also been completed.
During an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI) today, Erskine said the contractor is currently working on the four-lane section. He said all utilities within that section have been relocated.
“The contractor presently is focusing primarily on the paving activities. We are hoping that by the end of January, we should have a significant portion of the paving completed within the four-lane section, which is between Better Hope to Annandale.”
According to Erskine, reassured that while there have been reports of traffic congestion on the East Coast, the ministry has a traffic management plan, which it uses to monitor and adjusts, based on the feedback it receives from the travelling public.
“We have a hotline, so persons who have a concern can call us. We have a consultant that is responsible for the project. We have been having regular meetings with the Guyana Police Force for them to work along with us to assist in the management of the traffic on the East Coast, so they have been cooperating with us,” he told DPI.
Erskine said several construction zones, diversion and speed limit signs have also been set up to guide road users accordingly.
The contract for the East Coast Demerara road widening project was awarded to China Railway First Group limited in 2014, however, the physical work commenced in August 2017. The two-year project is set to be completed by the end of September of this year. In 2016, the government and the People’s Republic of China signed a GYD $9.6Billion (US$45.5Million) concessional loan for the completion of the widening of the road between Better Hope and Belfield. Guyana has contributed some $2.7Billion towards the project.
Alexis Rodney.
Images: Akeem Thomas.