Linden Soesdyke Highway to receive major upgrade
─ following feasibility study
─ highway to be lit before rehabilitation commences
─ Wismar/Mackenzie to receive new bridge
DPI, Guyana, Friday, May 3, 2019
The Beston SRKN’gineering Company, the consultancy firm contracted by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MoPI), has commenced feasibility studies for the major rehabilitation of the Linden Soesdyke Highway, the Linden to Mabura Hill trail as well as the Kurupukari Bridge.
Project Director of Beston SRKN’gineering, Stuart E. B Hughes and specialists from the firm, on May 2, engaged Regional Chairman, Renis Morian and Councillors of Region 10 Regional Democratic Council (RDC), on the strides they would have made thus far and sought their input on the project. This is the first of three engagements. The second is slated for August 2019, after the draft design proposal would have been completed.
In a detailed presentation, Hughes along with engineering, environmental, social and gender experts, presented the initial activities and findings of both projects. The discussion also focused mostly on the Linden Soesdyke Highway, since its rehabilitation has been on the radar for several years.
The rehabilitation of the highway will commence from the Soesdyke Junction and will end at the Wismar Mackenzie Bridge; where a new bridge is to be constructed. Also included in the rehabilitation are nine bridges and six culverts.
Stuart E. B Hughes, Project Director of Beston SRKN’gineering company presenting an overview of the feasibility study to the Councillors of the Region 10 RDC.
In addition to the feasibility report, the consultants are also expected to conduct a road safety audit, an axle load survey and design weight control programme, an environmental and social impact assessment and a bidding document. The upgrades will address the current state of the highway as well as road safety issues.
The main concern for the councillors was the placement of lights on the Linden Soesdyke Highway in the interim, while the rehabilitation process is waiting to commence. Officers from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure related that lights will be installed on the highway before the rehabilitation commences.
Beston SRKN’gineering also engaged other stakeholders including residents, farmers and resort owners among others. Similar activities are being conducted for the feasibility study of the Mabura Hill and Kurupukari bridge, which is an update of a study done in 2012.
The World Bank will cover funding for these feasibility studies.
Story and Images: Vanessa Braithwaite