As the government’s road rehabilitation and construction programme continues apace, the Ministry of Works in a release yesterday informed residents along the East Bank of Demerara corridor within the Diamond/Grove area that the final part of the construction of the bypass road from Diamond to Good Success which has been ongoing, will commence in the new week.
This final phase involves the construction of an alternative road through Kaneville-Grove to Good Success.
This, the release added, signals the soon-to-begin rehabilitation of the entire East Bank Highway from Diamond/Grove to Timehri, as this bypass serves to facilitate the East Bank traffic while work on the highway is underway.
According to the ministry, the current bypass consists of road and bridge works and include the widening of community roads and the construction of two reinforced concrete bridges between Diamond and Good Success. In Diamond, the Back, and Third Streets are being rehabilitated and widened, while in New Grove, First Street is being rehabilitated to link to Kaneville Main Access Road with the construction of a new bridge. Contracts for this final phase of the bypass were awarded in May 2023 with the contractors beginning their mobilising.
At the launching of the works on May 22, Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, stressed the importance of this roadway to the development of the East Bank Demerara corridor.
“This bypass will provide critical road connectivity, precisely why it is being built, to accommodate road users while we rehabilitate and upgrade the EBD highway. I don’t need to tell you how critical this is, you already know, and so I urge representatives of the contractors and utility companies to work assiduously to complete the works within the agreed timelines”, he said.
Meanwhile, civil works are also ongoing with the installation of streetlights in all three communities and are scheduled to be completed by the end of this week. Further, the relocation of utilities has commenced and will be completed in 4 weeks’ time. Works are presently ongoing in Kaneville Main Access Roads, while works for GTT and GPL are being undertaken in-house. The GWI works have been awarded to Vijay Ramlall.
In relation to the road widening works, contracts were awarded in five lots and the contractors are currently mobilising for the completion of works in July 2023. These works, the release noted, are being funded by the Government of Guyana at a cost of over $554 million.
A traffic advisory has also been issued which states that travel will only be permitted to cars, SUVs, and buses and that no heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) will be permitted to use the Bypass Road. Instead, all HGVs will be required to continue to use the East Bank Demerara Public Road.
In addition, road users are being urged to follow the traffic signs within the proximity of the area, follow designated pedestrian routes, and obey traffic signals. They are also reminded to be alert and patient as changes are expected in the route, and to adhere to posted speed limits and adjust driving speed accordingly when passing through the area.
Anyone requiring further information can contact the Ministry via email at eastbankroadupgrade@publicworks.gov.gy or pr_dept@mopw.gov.gy the release added.
