With the new deadline for the Sheriff Street/Mandela Avenue road project fast approaching, the Ministry of Public Works under whose aegis the project is being executed, is pushing for all major works to be completed by October 31.
Speaking on the sidelines of a contract awarding ceremony at the Ministry’s boardroom, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill said that his team at this moment has not approached the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for an extension since they are pushing for the completion of all major works.
“We expect that both bridges which is both the Lamaha Bridge and the Arapaima Bridge to be fully completed, as you can see paving is accelerating, we have moved paving apace, because apart from the contractor supplying asphalt through his own arrangement, he has engaged the ministry and our asphalt plant is also supplying asphalt to the road,” he explained.
He told reporters that they are currently working to complete the asphalting of the Sheriff Street and Mandela Avenue sections. And according to the Minister it is only if these works are not completed that the IDB will approached with a request for an extension the contract.
He however stated that the installation of road lights and signage will be delayed due to the global shipping crisis. “We have some delays with the shipping of the traffic lights and the poles for the traffic signals, the traffic signs, we anticipate practical completion of all the heavy work, and we’re pushing for October 31. I have said to them, day or night work, let’s get there.”
The project, which originally commenced in August of 2018, entails road rehabilitation, installation of street lights, traffic signals, bus stops, expansion of Mandela Avenue to a four-lane highway, drainage works, installation of bridges, and the relocation of utilities.
With the project being way behind last year, several sub-contractors had to be engaged in a bid to speed up the work and return to schedule.
Sheriff Street will have an upgraded two-lane road, while Mandela Avenue, from the National Cultural Centre to the Hunter Street intersection will be upgraded to a four-lane road.
It was previously estimated that the project would take two years to complete. The project was handed over to Sinohydro early in 2018 after the contract was awarded and work commenced in the latter part of the year. The contract is pegged at US$31.03 million and is being financed by the Inter-American Development Bank.
