Ninety per cent of works on the $500 million alternative road link between Eccles and Diamond has been completed to date and the Ministry of Housing and Water has declaring that the project is on schedule.
During a visit yesterday by this newspaper to the site, located between Herstelling and Diamond, ongoing construction works were observed. A significant portion of the road has already been paved. Some sections have also had lighting and road signs installed.
Public Relations Officer at the ministry Jenelle Carter yesterday told Stabroek News that the project remains on track and should be completed in a few weeks.
The alternative road link, which is aimed at reducing the traffic congestion along the East Bank of Demerara, is expected to be completed by April 15th.
During its visit to the site, Stabroek News was informed that a new bridge is expected to be constructed over the Mocha canal, to facilitate connection to Providence and other communities. As a result, the ministry had to compensate two house lot holders as the land they once occupied now forms a part of the road network.
According to the owner of one of the lots, after the visit by President Irfaan Ali to the site, he was contacted by the ministry with the request that he relocate. The man, Ravi Budhoo, told this publication that he agreed despite having almost finished building his house.
He told this newspaper that he was given another lot and was compensated for the house that was almost completed.
“They come and ask me and I couldn’t say no. We want to see development and I agreed. They have relocated me to another lot and gave a compensation so that is ok,” the house owner said.
The alternative road route is being constructed to ease the traffic congestion on the East Bank during peak hours. Minister within the ministry, Susan Rodrigues had told Stabroek News that the road is being constructed at the back of Great Dia-mond, Little Diamond and Prospect – areas that have been opened up for housing projects.
“The road is very crucial not only for the housing schemes but to address the traffic congestion on the East Bank,” she had said.
Minister Collin Croal had also accompanied Ali on a second site visit, which is the proposed site for the new road linking East Bank Demerara and Georgetown and a continuation of the current project.
The project, which falls under the Ministry of Housing and Water, is expected to be completed by November.
During the familiarisation tour, discussions on alignment and placement of possible interconnectors were held.
“Because of the immediate need to ease the congestion we are now building this alternative connection and interconnection… We are looking at a four-lane connection from Eccles to Mandela Avenue and hopefully by October, November, we can have that ready,” Ali had said.
The road project will be funded by central government and, according to Croal, it has been in the works since Ali was Minis-ter of Housing and Water.
The road project is not in any way connected to the India-funded Ogle to Diamond bypass road.
The road construction is currently being undertaken by three contracting firms – Annirud Ramcharitar Construction Firm, Guy-america Construction Inc, and Bardon Construction. Each contractor was awarded lots, with each lot having its own specifications. Croal also noted that the cost of the road includes lighting. Current-ly works are being done between Great Diamond and Mocha. Croal had pointed out that with the infrastructure already in place between Eccles to Mocha, they are moving towards interconnecting infrastructure between 6th and 7th Avenue, Great Diamond, which will then connect to Mocha.
