With just a bridge to be completed, the alternative road from Diamond to Eccles will soon be open to the public, Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water Susan Rodrigues announced yesterday.
The construction of the road has been completed but the ministry is awaiting the finishing of the bridge for the road to be open fully open to the public.
Meanwhile, Rodrigues said that construction is scheduled to begin shortly on the connecting road from Eccles to Mandela Avenue as they are finalising the contracts with the contractors.
The Diamond to Eccles road link was constructed at a cost of $500 million, while the Eccles to Mandela Road is being constructed at the cost of $2.3 billion.
The scope of works for the new four-lane highway includes land clearing and drain cleaning; construction of 5.5km of earthen drains and 200 meters of reinforced concrete drains; construction of reinforced concrete box culverts; 2.8km of four-lane rigid pavement carriageway (with two parking lanes); installation of solar street lights; and 12 reinforced heavy-duty composite bridges.
The alternative road routes are being constructed to ease the traffic congestion on the East Bank during peak hours.
Rodrigues had told Stabroek News that the first phase of the road is being constructed at the back of Great Diamond, Little Diamond and Prospect – areas that have been opened up for housing projects.
The first phase of the road construction was 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.
The cost of the road also includes lighting and signage.
The second phase of the project, which also falls under the Ministry of Housing and Water, is expected to be completed by November.
The second phase of the road is being constructed in six lots by Guy-America Construction Incorporated to the tune of $555 million; MTSUL Construcoes Limited, M and P Invest-ment Incorporated and Cobra Eireli for $364.4 million; Puran Bros Disposal Incorporated for $360.2 million; Collin Talbot Contracting Services and Eron Lall Civil Engineering Works for $256.7 million; Aronco Services Incorporated for $471 million, and JS Guyana Incorporated for $352.4 million.
The Lots are lot 1- Eccles, East Bank Demerara; Lot 2- Agricola, Greater Georgetown; Lot 3– Rome, Greater George-town; Lot 4– Houston South, Lot 5- Houston North, Greater George-town; and Lot 6 – South Ruimveldt, Greater Georgetown.
The road project is not in any way connected to the India-funded Ogle to Diamond bypass road.
