Mabaruma’s infrastructure transformation taking shape!
─ 160metre ridged pavement nears completion
─ Kumaka bridge works moving apace
DPI, Guyana, Friday, August 2, 2019
Residents and visitors to Region 1, Barima-Waini, will soon benefit from $171M in infrastructural upgrades. These upgrades for 2019, come on the heels of two contracts spearheaded by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure through Mohammed Ramzalli Khan Construction.
The ongoing transformation of the Northwest District partly entails the rehabilitation of Compound Road in Mabaruma and the reconstruction of the Kumaka Bridge. These projects are occurring in its second and third phases, following Phase 1 that reached its conclusion in 2018, after investing approximately $110M.
According to Hinterland Engineer within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Jeffrey Walcott, “completing an additional section of the ridge pavement,” will complement the bridge works.
In the engineer’s briefing on the length of the roadworks, the Department of Public Information (DPI) learnt that it will be 160feet long, with the bridge measuring 60feet.
On the other hand, the construction team is mitigating an issue concerning the structure of the bridge. “While the bridge is being constructed, we had to create a bypass to allow vehicular traffic to utilise the roadway. As a consequence, the cofferdam did impede of the movement of water within the natural drainage basin of the area,” the Hinterland Engineer related.
A resolution to the situation is expected as the reconstruction of the bridge moves ahead. Engineer Walcott noted, “as soon as the beams are completed, we should be able to have that issue addressed because you will have free-flowing water actually through the structure or on the mid structure.”
Walcott stated that Phase 2 and 3 of the projects were undertaken after the 2018 roadworks took effect to build 3,500 feet of ridged pavements along Compound Road. This led to increased economic activities within the Mabaruma administrative area and Kumaka Wharf, thereby creating the need for more works to be done.
At the time of the 2018 project, the engineer said: “We continue to construct rigid pavement designs because we found that it is working a lot better than the asphalt and the double bituminous surface treatment (DBST) roads. The roads in Mabaruma… have been neglected for a long time so this is a complete makeover with a structure that will be around for another 25 to 30 years.”
The Coalition Government’s commitment to Region 1 continues to bear fruit as the administration executes projects designed to enhance the living standards of its citizens.