Thomas Lands has been closed for two weeks from yesterday for the latest in several attempts to repair defects on the road, calling into question again the decisions made in contract awards and whether public funds aren’t being wasted.
In a notice, the Ministry of Public Works said it has engaged the contractor, JKP Construction, to undertake the rehabilitation of Thomas Lands.
The closure is from the African Cultural & Development Association to the second access bridge of Queen’s College.
No vehicular traffic will be allowed to transit from Camp Road to Albert Street or Vlissengen Road. Nor will vehicular traffic be allowed to transit from Vlissengen Road to Camp Road
The duration of works will be from Thursday 30th May, 2024 to 12th June, 2024.
The ministry apologized for any inconvenience this may cause. Anyone seeking further information can reach out to Narendra Dewnauth – +592 641-4069, Randy Warysali – +592 674-2864, Ministry of Public Works – +592 223-1840, Lokenauth Balkishun, Project Engineer MoPW –
+592 622-5380.
In December of 2022, months after a section of the newly done Thomas Lands road had to be repaired after it began sinking, another segment began exhibiting the same problem. The road had been done by Pooran Manman and Sons Contracting Services.
Company manager Pooran Manman had told Stabroek News in August of 2022 that a second layer of asphalt was placed on the sections of the road that started to deteriorate.
Manman had said that if the 200-metre portion of the road continued to see slippage and additional potholes on either side, then the entire stretch of asphalt would have to be dug up and the road would have to be reconstructed.
Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill had previously told this newspaper that the company had used a three-tonne roller instead of a ten-ton roller, which was the required standard in order for the asphalt to have maximum compression. It is unclear whether any penalties were applied against the company or whether extra public monies had to be expended on the repairs.
In an advertisement in February of last year in the Sunday Stabroek, the Ministry of Public Works had said that the rehabilitation of a section of Thomas Lands was projected to cost $405m.
