The East Coast Highway road upgrade and widening project is currently 71 per cent done and is expected to be completed by the end of the year, Technical Services Manager for roads at the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Nigel Erskine has disclosed.
Erskine gave Sunday Stabroek an update on the project, which extends from Better Hope to Belfield on the East Coast corridor.
On the current status, Erskine said that the physical progress of the overall project stands at 71 per cent completion and includes both the four-lane and two-lane sections.
However, he pointed out that the works for the four-lane section are at 80 per cent completion and only smaller works remain to be done. As it relates to the bridges along the section, he said they are 95 per cent completed. Seven out of eighth bridges are at 95 per cent completion, while the eight, in Montrose, is at 40 per cent completion.
As it relates to the culverts, they are currently 100 per cent completed, which brings the status of the four-lane section to 80 per cent completion overall.
“Everything is actually finished paving but we still have to do the access roads and approaches. We are going 20 metres into all the second roads leading onto the main road and that is the most significant item left for the road works as it relates to the four-lane,” Erskine said.
He further disclosed that the concrete drains, revetments and kerb walls are all completed for the section, and the traffic signals and streetlights are being prepared for installation.
“We would’ve put up all of the poles and foundations for the traffic lights and all of the bases for the streetlights have been constructed. Out of 170 lights, only 33 have been installed so far. We have all of the poles and lights available and they have been cleared and within the next couple of weeks, you should see a major transformation of the road as it relates to being lit, as well as the road markings being done,” Erskine added.
As it relates to the two-lane section, Erskine said that they are currently 10 per cent completed and have completed the concrete drains in Buxton. This progress will allow them to begin paving works in the area between today and tomorrow on the northern lane.
As a result, the lane will be closed off and when it is finished, the other lane will be done.
“Works have also started on the other two bridges on the two-lane section at Vigilance and Enmore and in terms of materials, we have an adequate amount for it to progress smoothly,” he said.
However, while the road was expected to be completed in September, Erskine related that they have had some delays that will push the completion date further to the end of the year.
“We encountered a 60-day delay because of some difficulties with the relocation of vendors at Mon Repos. That has affected the overall completion. We would’ve built a tarmac at School Street but we had difficulty getting them to that location,” he said.
At the initial phase of the project, there were various issues as it relates to congestion and traffic flow. Commuters complained vehemently about the lack of a proper system to regulate the traffic, as well as the absence of proper road signs.
However, Erskine said that they have since made significant progress with the four-lane section and have started the two-lane section and have not had much complaints.
This he credited to their rigorous awareness campaigns that included the publishing of notices on social as well as the news media, along with having persons personally informing residents about the status of the work and other specifics.
“I think it should be completed pretty close to the expected completion date. We should see it more or less finishing close to the original [deadline],” he said.
Work on the project began in August 2017 and was expected to be completed by August this year. The project will see the widening of the carriageway from a two-lane road into four lanes between Better Hope and Annandale. After Annandale, there will be an asphaltic concrete surface upgrade up to Belfield.
The project will result in 26 structures being widened to enable the four-lane road and two bridges will also be built to facilitate the road’s expansion. Additionally, 11 traffic light signals will be installed at various intersections, along with street lights, road safety signs and other speed reduction devices.
The contract was awarded to China Railway First Group Company Limited to the tune of US$46,995,941.34, with funding from the Government of Guyana and the Export-Import Bank of China.
