Described as a priority project for the new PPP/C government, Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill has disclosed that officials are currently reviewing the designs for the Ogle to Diamond bypass road before moving on to the next stage.
Edghill, in a recent telephone interview, told Stabroek News that upon taking up office he was briefed on the project and the works that had been completed. With alterations done to the design of the road under the APNU+AFC government, the engineers and technical staff have been asked to present both designs for review.
“We have asked the engineers and people here to provide us with the original design for the original US$50M road and alignment and the design [with the changes] to road and alignment and to provide options if there is any other option for decision making. We are looking at what we left and we are looking at what was changed,” the minister explained.
According to the Public Works Minister, after being briefed fully by his staff he will be engaging his cabinet colleagues in discussions and they will make an informed decision on the project.
“…We have to get a decision, this money has already been committed by the Indian Exim Bank to government and we intend to pursue this project. The road project is under active discussion and after briefings…I will be able to advise cabinet for decisions. Both the construction of the New Demerara Harbour Bridge and this Ogle to Diamond road are priority projects I can tell you that,” Edghill underscored.
Following a visit in January, 2015 to India, former President Donald Ramotar had received the commitment from the bank to fund the road project.
In 2017, APNU+AFC Minister of Finance Winston Jordan had signed off on the US$50 million loan with the Exim Bank of India for the construction of a 20-kilometre road from Ogle on the East Coast of Demerara, to Diamond on the East Bank of Demerara.
The new road link is expected to serve as a corridor for communities on the East Bank, including Perseverance, Mocha, Providence, Eccles, Peter’s Hall and Aubrey Barker Road. It will also provide a bypass from the city.
Indian company RITES Limited was awarded a US$1.3 million contract to undertake a feasibility study.
In July last year, the Ministry on its Facebook page had released a short video of the design for the proposed road link. The design featured a four-lane highway and two roundabouts to assist with the flow of traffic.
RITES consultant, Rajendra Sothwal had explained that there will be several road safety provisions including metal beam crash barriers, concrete crash barriers, lighting, adequate traffic signs, pavement marking, impact attenuators, road studs, a pedestrian footpath, cycle track and shrubs in the raised median to cut headlight glare from oncoming traffic.
In August last year, it was reported that the estimated cost of the construction of the road link had increased by 3.5 times the original US$50 million cost.
During the feasibility study period, which established the road alignment, Jordan said, “our engineering teams encountered a swampy area between Ogle and Diamond.”
The Ministry of Public Infrastructure’s Technical Services Manager Nigel Erskine had previously said that the project would also include a 40-metre reserve in the middle of the two lanes, which the ministry decided on following a suggestion from former Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson to have a rapid rail developed from Ogle to the Timehri airport that would enable persons to travel between the two locations within 15 minutes.