Govt approves $489M for additional works on ECD road expansion

─ project on schedule for September target, 75 per cent work accomplished  

By Synieka Thorne

DPI, Guyana, Thursday, May 23, 2019

The first phase of the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) road widening project is on schedule for September target, with 75 per cent of the work accomplished thus far. The National Assembly, early this afternoon, approved $489M for the completion of the final leg of the first phase of the project.

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson told the House that the sums would, among other things, cover the provision of street lights for the stretch of road from Annandale to just beyond Belfield. It will also cater for the installation of traffic lights at seven intersections, three of which are expected to be completed by the end of July.

In 2016, the government and the People’s Republic of China signed a $9.6Billion (US$45.5M) 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.

According to Minister Patterson, the project, which was proceeding at a pace of 5 to 8 per cent, slowed down to 2 to 3 per cent towards the latter end of 2018. However, the contractors are working to meet the project’s September deadline.

The minister, however, revealed that one of the bottle necks of the project has been at Montrose, at the Massy bridge works, which have caused some traffic congestion in that area. The bridge, he said, will be completed in July.