Hinterland slated to receive improved road connectivity in 2019

─ govt interested in connecting Regions 1 and 7

─ Sinking Manari Bridge benefitting from upgrade

DPI, Guyana, Tuesday, March 5, 2019

As the APNU+AFC Government continues its efforts to bridge the hinterland with the coast, several regions are slated to benefit from major connectivity upgrades following the allocation of $2Billion from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure towards infrastructural development in interior regions.

In this regard, the ministry will be constructing, resurfacing and upgrading roads and bridges connecting Region 1 (Barima-Waini) and Region 7 (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Region 7 and Region 8 (Potaro-Siparuni), Region 8 and Region 9 (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo). The ministry is also exploring greater connectivity between Region 6 (East Berbice-Corentyne) and Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

The government is working closely with Toshaos to ascertain areas of priority for the communities slated to benefit from the expansive developmental upgrades as the opening and development of corridors to improve connectivity across the regions is a top priority for the ministry.

In an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI), the ministry’s Hinterland Engineer, Jeffery Walcott explained that the Linden-Lethem corridor is still high on the list of priorities of developmental projects for 2019 because it will significantly impact development for several regions.

“Connectivity is the big picture. We are also looking at the bridges which need to be addressed, specifically the Manari bridge. We still have a renewed interest in connecting Region 1 to Region 7, connecting Regions 6 and 10, and Regions 8 and 9,” Walcott said.

He explained that one of the ministry’s overarching themes “in terms of how we approach our project planning as well as engagement with the relevant agencies and the persons who are benefiting is still another fundamental tenet of how we approach our hinterland programme,” Walcott explained.

Barima-Waini and Cuyuni-Mazaruni

Among the several areas cited for development in Region 1, is the total overhaul of the Moruca bridge which is on track for completion by the end of the first quarter of 2019.

“It’s an existing timber bridge. We revised the design to implement a composite design which is a steel and concrete support system with a concrete deck,” Walcott explained.

He noted that the new bridge, upon its completion, will be a more superior structure and is likely to give the residents an extended amount of use.

Cuyuni-Mazaruni and Potaro-Siparuni

In terms of Region 7, there is a renewed effort for the continuation of road works and paving within Bartica between the Bartica-Potaro corridor which leads directly to Mahdia, Region 8.

For Region 8, further improvements along several sections of the aforementioned corridor will be facilitated as well as the rehabilitation of the Denham bridge and other undeveloped areas along the Bartica-Potaro corridor.

The Denham suspension bridge, also known as the Garraway Stream Bridge, is a railway bridge linking Mahdia to Bartica. This suspension bridge was constructed over the Potaro River in an area known as ‘Garraway Stream’. It is the longest suspension bridge over the Potaro gorge.

$67.52M has been earmarked for the rehabilitation and construction of bridges to provide proper egress and ingress to communities such as Elenake, Konawaruk, Kalibung and Kurukabaru among others. This amount also includes the construction of a bridge which will link Kato to Pakaraimas and benefit approximately 4000 residents.

Additionally, ongoing works for Bartica is slated for completion within the first quarter of this year.

Potaro-Siparuni and Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo

In Lethem, Region 9, the Manari bridge, which was reportedly becoming more and more perilous, will be rehabilitated. The ministry will also be upgrading the Kato route to facilitate improved access for residents in Region 8.

In Region 9, there has been a focus on the development of the Monkey Mountain/Kato/Karassabai connection, which the ministry has earmarked for resuscitation.

“There is an existing route but we’re focusing on really developing it and looking at what I guess could be considered improved access or better location overall because for a long time that area has not had much work done and in terms of overall budgetary approved allocations, it’s within $200-$300M set aside for that,” Walcott remarked.

A portion of the money is going to be spent to upgrade the Region Eight corridor while the other portion will be spent in Region 9 with the aim of having those two corridors connected to each other and create ease of access for thousands of persons.

East Berbice-Corentyne and Upper Demerara-Berbice

The ministry has identified a Kwakwani to Orealla corridor connection in Region 10.

“We’ve prioritised meeting with the relevant agencies to get not only directives but to see where our projects overlap and where we can improve the efficiency overall in its delivery,” Walcott said.

The Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, is committed to the linking of the hinterland to the coastal area, and has given full support to its realisation since their succession to office, in keeping with the promise made in their 2015 manifesto.

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, noted that an improved road network is vital for the extractive industry as well as the eco-tourism industry and that Guyana will finally realise this goal and its related benefits under the APNU+AFC administration.

Nateshia Isaacs.

Image: Department of Public Information.