The Ministry of Public Works has taken over work on the Region Eight (Potaro/Siparuni) access road after substantial repairs were started as a self-help project by stakeholders in the community.
At a public meeting held in February the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) in collaboration with the Campbelltown Amerindian Village Council, the business sector and residents, a decision was taken to begin a massive self-help repair project to “ensure safe access and use of the road.”
At the meeting it was said that lack of maintenance, the constant and prolonged rainfall and the traversing of fuel tankers and other overloaded heavy-duty trucks had contributed to the dilapidated state of the road. It was noted also that the absence of a competent authority to maintain the road had caused its deterioration.
Regional information officer Daniel Fraser told Stabroek News on Thursday that the work carried out by the group was successful as buses, cars and other light vehicles could now traverse in comfort.
However he said that the repairs would not be able to withstand the burden of heavy-duty vehicles that traverse it regularly, so the work proposed by the Ministry of Works was welcomed.
Fraser said that the contract was awarded to Mekdeci Machinery and Construction Inc. (MMC). This new project would oversee the rehabilitation of the access road from the Tumatumari junction to the Mahdia Airstrip.
However roads within Mahdia are the responsibility of the RDC.
