While the residents of Rosa Drive and Buttercup Place in South Ruimveldt Park insist that they are not against development, they are now forced to negotiate the now deplorable Aubrey Barker Road as contractors’ dump trucks traverse the roadway recklessly en route to the De Endragt Housing Scheme development aback Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.
As such, on Monday, fed-up residents placed debris across the Aubrey Barker Road to prevent the heavy-duty trucks from damaging the road any further. Their action was triggered by an incident that occurred on Monday afternoon when a heavy-duty truck that was transporting material for the contractors working to develop the scheme, almost toppled while trying to traverse a sinking part of the road. The driver, in an attempt to motor along that part of the road almost collided with a pregnant woman and residents were alarmed.
One resident who asked not to be named told Stabroek News, “Yesterday afternoon, one of these big trucks was transporting stone or sand and because of the situation of the road he had to power through the road and in doing so he (nearly) topple and to avoid it he tried to maneuver and in doing so he almost kill a pregnant woman.”
Wilfred (only name given) related, “My wife and son driving and you know how much time they have to go to the mechanic. Now the road damage [and] when the vehicle damage is who feeling the squeeze? Nobody not coming to say anything. As far as I’m concerned, I don’t feel they care nothing. Taxi is hardly want come in here because of this problem.”
This section of the road is not completely impassable but can only accommodate cars or light vehicles.
Persons living within the affected areas are forced to walk through loam and mud because taxis are refusing to use the road because of the current state. Vehicle owners explained that their visits to the mechanic are more than usual since the cars are being affected by the state of the road. It is the general consensus that the contractors are only concerned about getting their work done and at the same time they are being inconsiderate. Garbage trucks are refusing to service the area, so residents are forced to explore alternatives to properly dispose of their garbage.
The construction of new roads within the De Endragt Housing Scheme that will eventually be linked to the Aubrey Barker Road is ongoing. Further, the land preparation works for the housing scheme are underway with the heavy trucks transporting material to the area via the Aubrey Barker Road.
The distraught residents explained that the housing development project has been going on for a while but they began being affected six months ago. When the project started months ago, residents were only bothered by the vibration caused by the huge trucks at nights. The trucks also use the road in the day, but at nights residents are forced to endure the constant shaking of their houses. The residents fear that the constant vibration could be damaging the foundations of houses. The residents also emphasised that they are in dire need of a proper roadway to go about their daily activities.
“Just imagine you’re in your bed at night and 3 o’ clock in the morning and you’re feeling that vibration. Then sometimes five trucks are passing at once. We are not against development but it must be considerate. If the trucks can come in probably every 15 minutes that can work but not all at once and the road is breaking away. While development is ongoing, we should not suffer.”
The residents told Stabroek News that while the development is ongoing, they are in need of a proper road. Their wish is not to be inconvenienced and endure turmoil while the construction is ongoing.
During a visit to the road yesterday, a Guyana Power and Light vehicle was seen using the parapet to avoid being caught in the enormous holes on the road. To avoid damage, other cars were parked a street away with the occupants opting to walk the rest of the way.
