The Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Public Works (MoPW) wants the public to know that it is aware of the issues and challenges faced by commuters using the East Bank Public Road and is engaged in the complete rehabilitation of the public road, in refutation of those critics who say that the administration has no plans to address the problem.
In a release yesterday, the MoPW acknowledged that the East Bank thoroughfare, throughout the course of its existence has endured significant stress resulting from both the volume of vehicular traffic, as well as, the weight of trucks, and both articulated and non-articulated vehicles. These factors, it observed, has resulted in the deformation of the road surface, with its complete rehabilitation presenting a major challenge due to massive traffic flow that it facilitates both day and night. As such, in an effort to keep traffic flowing, MoPW has had to resort periodic maintenance work to various sections of the carriageway at a time, a patchwork approach at best.
According to the release, in an effort to holistically address this pressing concern, the Government of Guyana has recently constructed a bypass road through Grove-Diamond to connect with Heroes Highway so that the stretch of road between Grove and Diamond can be available for reconstruction, while simultaneously facilitating the flow of traffic vital to commerce and transport.
The release highlighted the government’s plan for the comprehensive rehabilitation of the East Bank Demerara Public Road from Mocha to Timehri which is as follows:
Mocha to Diamond
This segment of roadway is scheduled for rehabilitation works under financing from the IDB, and Bills of Quantities are completed and are being reviewed. The works entail – pothole patching, milling (removal, grinding and reusing the top layer of asphalt without disturbing the underlying subbase), local failure repairs; and asphalt concrete overlay.
Grove
This segment of road is scheduled for reconstruction under financing from the Government of Guyana and the project is at the procurement stage. Works entail – Excavation of unsuitable existing material (approx. 1m); backfilling with white sand; use of geosynthetic fabric; installing loam subbase; installing crusher run base; installing asphalt concrete wearing course; installing concrete drain and utilities (already completed); and by-pass road from Diamond to Good Success (completed and operational for light vehicles).
Good Success to Timehri
This segment of road is scheduled for rehabilitation under financing from the IDB under a Design and Build contract was signed and designs for Section B submitted for approval. Approval is likely to be given by the Bank in another two weeks and physical works are expected to commence. Works entail: rehabilitation of structures; rehabilitation and widening of carriageway; installation of roadside furniture; road markings; installation of street lighting; and provision of pedestrian walkways in residential areas.
Buzz Bee Dam to Friendship
A new four-lane highway is being constructed along the Heroes Highway alignment from Buzz Bee Dam to Friendship. Bids are currently at the evaluation stage and this project will be funded by the Government of Guyana. It is envisioned that this road will continue all the way to the Linden/Soesdyke Highway.
In view of the aforementioned undertakings, the release noted, “It is unfortunate that while this plan was discussed in the National Assembly, because monies were apportioned for sections of this undertaking, that we now have individuals who are ‘politicking’ in a way that would suggest that there is no plan to comprehensively address the issues being faced along the East Bank Public Road.”
