The Ministry of Housing and Water yesterday released the route and artist’s impression for the proposed road link between Eccles to the Mandela Avenue which is expected to be completed by November of this year.
The route was released during an inter-agency consultation on the Mandela Avenue to Eccles Highway hosted by the Ministry yesterday.
A brief statement on the Ministry’s Facebook page informed that the proposed main access road measuring 2.8 kilometers in length will be constructed to facilitate four‐lanes.
The eastern carriageway will convey south‐bound traffic from Mandela Avenue, Georgetown to Eccles, East Bank Demerara, and the western carriageway will convey north‐bound traffic from Eccles to Mandela Avenue.
During the briefing session which was live streamed on the ministry’s Facebook page, Deputy Director of Projects, Intakab Indarjeet, explain-ed that the link will begin from the Eccles Landfill road and head northwards to Mandela Avenue.
He noted that along the road there will be intersections at Aubrey Barker Road, and Cane View Avenue, in South Ruimveldt Gardens. These intersections will be restricted to right turns, a decision he stated, that will help to enhance traffic flow. It will also feature 12 bridges, a median with lights as well as pedestrian and cycle lanes. It was also pointed out that the road will take the rigid pavement design and will be constructed using the standards of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials handbook.
This phase of the road is currently under procurement and bids are scheduled to be opened next Thursday. According to the Ministry’s work plan, contracts will be awarded and signed by March 30. In a bid to fast track the construction of the road to enable it to meet its November deadline, the construction will be done simultaneously in six lots.
Barring objections to the procurement process, construction works are expected to commence by mid-April.
The project, which is the brainchild of President Irfaan Ali, aims to bring much relief to thousands affected by traffic congestion on the East Bank of Demerara. Earlier this year, the president announced that the government will be constructing a new road link connecting communities on the East Bank of Demerara and providing an alternative route to the current East Bank Highway.
This link is different from the Ogle to Eccles-Diamond four-lane bypass road which is being funded by the Indian Government.
Additionally, the first phase of the alternative East Bank Demerara road from Sixth Avenue Diamond to Eccles is currently under construction and according to President Ali that should be completed by April for vehicular traffic.
The President during his site visit last month said that the road would not just link the communities and ease congestion, but enhance the quality of life for residents.
“This is part of the infrastructure transformation, an integration of communities, because now Diamond, Prospect, Eccles, Herstelling, Covent Garden, Mocha all these communities will be integrated,” he declared.
The President also proposed having a modernised system to police the road, which would include the building of police towers and Wi-Fi cameras which would automatically ticket drivers.
