Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson says the proposed $2.3 billion budget for road rehabilitation and construction in the hinterland next year is testament to the government’s commitment to ensuring the long awaited link to the coast.
“Government is committed to the linking of the hinterland to the coastal area, and has given full support to its realisation since our succession to office; this is in keeping with the promise in our 2015 manifesto,” Patterson said last Thursday, while addressing the National Assembly on the government’s proposed $250 billion national budget.
Patterson, who noted that an improved road network is vital for the extractive industry as well as the eco-tourism industry, said that after the years of talk since independence of infrastructural development that would link the coast and hinterland, Guyana will finally realise this goal and its related benefits under the APNU+AFC administration.
Among the projects he cited for the coming year is the rehabilitation works along the Bartica-Potaro corridor, including an assessment of the link between the Denham Bridge and the Cassandra Crossing. He added that a new Cassandra Bridge will be constructed and would restore the “vital connection” between Bartica and Mahdia. Additionally, he noted that the connection between Mahdia and Linden will be strengthened with a new road under the UK’s Caribbean Infrastructure Fund.
He also mentioned the rehabilitation/ upgrading of the Linden to Mabura road and construction of a bridge across the Kurupukari River (Kurupukari Crossing), which would be overseen by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).
Other plans for this year, Patterson said, include seeking to address measures that contribute to an improvement in the safety of Guyana’s road network. He noted that the ministry has allocated a total of $607.1 million for the continuation of road safety measures. Under the 2016 budgetary allocation, he pointed out, a number of significant projects were completed, including the construction of approximately 800 metres of pedestrian sidewalk in Corriverton, and the installation of 311 highway lights on the Corentyne Highway and on the Ogle, Mocha, and Diamond Housing Scheme access roads. Works have also commenced on the construction of approximately 600 metres of pedestrian sidewalk from Vlissengen Road to Albert Street, and on a section of Woolford Avenue; as well as on the installation of 77 highway lights on the Number 19 Public Road, between Number 50 and Number 55 villages, Corentyne, Berbice.
Meanwhile, Patterson also reported that the East Bank four-lane highway, which was completed in September, has entered into the defects liability period. Over the next year, he said, the quality of the work executed on the US$17.17 million project will be closely observed.
He also noted that a US$45.5 million concessional loan has been signed with the Chinese government for the expansion of the East Coast Demerara Highway.
