Dear Editor,
The Bartica-Issano road is one of the most active and economically viable stretches of road in our country as it provides access to a number of major mining locations, including the 9 and 14 Miles mining areas, Kuribrong river, Honey Camp, et al. It is estimated that tens of thousands of ounces of gold and a lot of diamonds come out of this location and are a major contributor to the record mineral production of our country.
For the most part this road is in good condition and a far cry from a decade ago when it was considered the worst stretch of road in the interior. Trucks, pickups, ATVs and other vehicles use this road, and its good condition has undoubtedly played a major role in the huge increase in mining activities along it.
It is therefore most unfortunate that, despite its major improvement, there is a relatively short stretch of road of less than a mile which has some patches that seem to be continuously in a poor condition and rapidly deteriorate whenever there is heavy rainfall. This short stretch is the only bad section, at least up to Apanachi bridge, that mars an otherwise very good hinterland access road, but it is so bad that, once it deteriorates, then smaller vehicles cannot use it.
The stretch of bad road exists along a portion that is extensively loamy clay, hemmed in by very high hills on one side and steep ravines on the other, and which is easily damaged by heavy vehicles. This section has been bad from time immemorial, and it seems that the authorities have given up on trying to fix it. The local miners try valiantly to do their own repairs, but it only stands up for short periods and then reverts to its normal bad state in a few weeks.
Many think that a solution to this never-ending problem is impossible, and simply view it as an inevitable hazard along the road. However, there seems to be a solution to this problem which is evident right nearby, and it is hoped that this letter makes the officials aware of this option and hopefully begin considering it.
Decades ago a private exploration company experienced similar problems with other sections of this road and they came up with the ingenious solution to cobble the loam stretches with crushed boulder material. From then to now those stretches, exactly similar to that which now seems impossible to repair, has remained in the same excellent condition.
Why can’t the authorities responsible for the maintenance of this road undertake a similar type of roadbuilding exercise? There is no doubt that it will be more expensive than the usual laterite surface. But if an exploration company could undertake such an exercise decades ago why can’t our authorities do likewise, especially with the record profits gained from mining in this location? The crushed stones could be trucked in from the old Omai Mines which is relatively near, and where there is an abundance of such material and also a crushing plant in operation.
It seems a shame that such a good road has a very small section preventing it from being used by all types of vehicles. It is hoped that the authorities consider this option and finally solve a problem which seems impossible. The benefits from such an initiative are innumerable.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)
