– Linden/Lethem highway study to be completed
Over $7 billion has been allocated in this year’s national budget for roads and bridges with $1.8 billion of this allotted for the New Amsterdam to Moleson Creek road.
Meanwhile, $125 million has been allocated for the completion of the feasibility study towards the construction of a highway from Linden to Lethem. Presenting this year’s Budget to the National Assembly yesterday, Minister of Finance, Dr Ashni Singh said that of the $7 billion allocated to the country’s road and bridge network, $5 billion has been allotted for roads while the remainder is for bridges.
The $1.8 billion budgeted for the New Amsterdam to Moleson Creek road will see the completion of 86 kilometres of roadway there this year. Additionally, $880 million has been assigned to complete the approach access roads to the Berbice River Bridge while $749 million has been budgeted for the ongoing rehabilitation of the Demerara Harbour Bridge. This is to supplement funds previously allocated, for the acquisition of deck units and other components all aimed at improving the riding surface of the bridge and enhancing its durability, said Singh.
He told the National Assembly that $1.7 billion has been allocated to rehabilitate and maintain, urban, rural and hinterland roads across the country and $125 million has been allocated for the completion of the feasibility study towards the construction of a highway from Linden to Lethem. “This is a major infrastructural project and requires detailed and careful study. Upon implementation, this road would ensure easy accessibility to remote locations as well as reduce the cost of transportation of people and goods to and from the coastland and would redound to the benefit of all Guyanese,” he stated.
Additionally, the finance minister said, this year the design for the construction of 35km of roads at Black Bush Polder will be completed and works will commence by the end of this year. In train for this year too, are the rehabilitation of 25 critical structures along the Timehri/Rosignol corridor, the widening of road shoulders, improving traffic lighting at selected areas on the East Bank Demerara, installation of street lights from Providence to Timehri, widening of intersections to create additional turning lanes, and road striping and marking.
