Georgetown: The Public Works Ministry is looking at a mid-year completion date for the works on the East Bank Demerara (EBD)Four lane expansion project, as the project continues to face difficulties.
Minister of Public Works Robeson Benn said that among the major works to be completed is the Diamond Bridge located in proximity to Demerara Distillers Limited. Parts of it have been dismantled and a bypass has been created to allow for traffic.
Work Services Group (WSG) Coordinator, Geoffrey Vaughn said there are many reasons for the delay in the project, some of which include shortage of material, delays in the relocation of utilities, procurement of material, poor management by the contracting firm, cash flow, down time of equipment, shortage of human resources, poor planning and construction methodology.
Minister Benn noted that the Government is very much aware of the problems there and the same kinds of difficulties are expected during the West Demerara road expansion, recently announced.
In addition, he stated that there are attempts to have contractors work in the nights; however security concerns were raised and have therefore thwarted progress in the area.
It is eminent that the new road, designed as a modern highway with international standards, will provide access for more than 480 acres of unutilised land, and will allow for the creation of new communities, targeting almost 1500 households, and further adding to the development of the East Bank corridor.
Over the past years, Government has been spending billions of dollars towards improving the country’s road infrastructure. The East Bank road is being extended into four lanes from Providence to Diamond with US$20 million loan from the Inter American Development Bank (IDB).
Government had already built a four-lane road from Ruimveldt to Providence in light of the traffic congestion caused by several new housing schemes opening on the East Bank corridor, and the fact that there are about 10,000 vehicles added to the country’s roadways every year.
The project kicked off in early 2012 and was expected to end late 2013. The roadway itself not only links West Demerara via the Demerara Harbour Bridge, but leads to the main international airport at Timehri, and Linden, a main gateway to the hinterland.
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