Work on Red Road, Providence, East Bank Demerara has ceased after further movement was encountered during the soil compacting process. A geotechnical investigation is underway and samples were taken.
Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill told Stabroek News yesterday that the unstable soil was removed and while compacting the soil further movements were encountered. As a result the ministry launched a geotechnical investigation. The sample was taken on Saturday and the result of the analysis, which is expected to be returned today, will guide contractors on the way forward.
On Thursday afternoon, a stockpile of 30,000 tonnes of aggregate in the parking lot of the National Stadium, created a huge bulge that raised the entrance to Red Road, Providence, some six to eight feet. The aggregate stockpile is maintained and owned by the Ministry of Public Works.
The bulge that was created damaged 150 metres of the road. The event was described as unusual since the area has been used several times before to stockpile aggregate, crusher run, and stone, Edghill explained.
There are fibre optic cables planted along the walkway adjacent to the road under repair resulting in the tempo of the work slowing somewhat as GTT relocates them to avoid service disruption. On Thursday night, Guyana Power and Light (GPL) removed its poles from along the walkway and repositioned them closer to the fence.
EC Veira, AJM Enterprises, XL Engineering, and GuyAmerica Construction Inc are among contractors who responded on Thursday evening with machines to execute some of the work. XL Engineering and GuyAmerica Construction Inc were mobilised to reconstruct the damaged road. Machines also began removing the aggregate from the stockpile area so as to distribute the weight.
The ministry arranged orders for contractors actively engaged in government contracts who are in urgent need of crusher run and as a result 9,000 tonnes were removed on Friday.
On Friday night, the ministry announced that a pedestrian walkway had been created in the stockpile compound at Red Road for the safe movement of people in that area. The minister said safety was key and everything would be done to ensure people using the area can do so safely. He urged that they use the walkway and avoid the danger of traversing through the construction area.
