Government, in collaboration with the IDB, has started phase two of the Transport Infrastructure Rehabilitation Programme, which will see the rehabilitation and building of 25 bridges and culverts from Timehri to Rosignol.

According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), the works cost US$27M and it will also fund routine maintenance, a road safety project and the construction of the Black Bush Polder Road. Work is also ongoing on the East Bank Demerara roadway, to extend the four-lane road.

This component of the programme costs about US$6,869,691 and is 25% in progress. The contracts have been awarded to Courtney Benn Contracting Services Ltd, R Bassoo and Sons Construction Company, and BK International.

All works are expected to conclude this year, GINA said.

Works are also ongoing at Pearl and Little Diamond, East Bank Demerara and on the Abary Bridge, West Coast Berbice. Works at Pearl are 75% complete and entails the installation of a culvert while at Little Diamond the bridge is being expanded.

At Abary the works are 85% complete and entail extensive rehabilitation of the structure. “The scope of the works encompass sandblasting and painting of trusses, partial depth repairs to piers and abutments, repairing guard and bridge rails and extending the roadway with a sand bitumen overlay and an asphalt concrete wear surface,” the release said.