Many Tucville residents are now breathing sighs of relief as works are underway to upgrade the community’s roads.
A Government Information Agency (GINA) report, released on March 8, said the area’s main road and five others are being repaired by the Special Projects Unit of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure after some two decades.
GINA quoted Special Projects Unit supervisor Marlon Mc Rae as saying that six inches of crusher and two inches of asphalt were being put on the roads “because, according to the residents, ‘as soon as the rain smile, the road floods.’”
When Stabroek News visited the area on Friday, many residents stated that although they were not exactly sure who they should be thanking, they are truly grateful for the work being done on the roads.
“It’s a big step in the right direction,” Ann Denny, who has been living in the area for over 30 years, said.
She added that she has had to spend a lot of money on shoes for herself and her children as they endured the roads in their deplorable state.
Residents said they had to learn how to manoeuvre through the water that would be on the roads when the rain fell. One woman, who did not want to be named, stated that she and her family had to learn how to balance on a piece of wood when walking on the roads, which appeared to be ponds. “Since my kids born, they know they had to walk on the watery road and I had a plan. I always buy plastic slippers and we would walk with our long boots if we going to town and put it on when we going and when we got back,” she said.
She added that she could not recall the last time she was able to push one of her daughters, who is in a wheelchair, on the road. “She would have to take a taxi to and from work or we would take her since we have our own vehicle,” she shared.
Simone Waterman, another resident, stated that she was born and raised in the area and this is the first time she has seen any work down on the roads. She said that she is comfortable with the work that they have done and was also thankful that speed bumps were added. “This will stop dem driver from dashing through,” she stated.
Amidst their gratitude, all of residents who spoke with this newspaper mentioned the great need for street lights. The residents stated that the area is often very dark and there is concern for the safety of those who have to walk some distance when put off at the bus stop.
GINA said that engineers from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure continue to visit communities in and around Georgetown to assess the state of the infrastructure and to make the necessary interventions. Residents of various communities who have roads that are in a deplorable state are urged to contact the ministry’s Special Projects Unit.
