-Edghill cites pipelines
Residents of Tucville, in Georgetown have expressed concern over the ongoing roadworks in the community, charging that contractors have reduced the width of Thorne Street to just 12 feet, rendering it unsuitable for two-way traffic. Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill yesterday told the Sunday Stabroek that the reduction was in some parts due to pipelines being run. In a November 22 letter to Edghill, resident Russel Lancaster explained the concerns.
He said that the road, previously asphalted, is being replaced with a concrete surface.
“While this upgrade is welcome and appreciated, the new road is only 12 feet wide, which poses significant challenges for two-way vehicular traffic. This insufficient width will force vehicles onto the shoulders when passing, which could lead to premature damage and increased maintenance costs”, Lancaster said.
He said that upon inquiring with the relevant persons, including the engineer assigned to the project, he was informed that the contract specified a 12-foot-wide road.
Lancaster recommended the following solutions:
For ongoing projects like the one on Thorne Street, consider amending the specifications to a minimum width of 16 feet, which is better suited for two-way traffic. In Tucville there are wide parapets that will allow for this extension.
Extending the road for two feet on each side would allow for reinforced road shoulders that will ensure a longer life-span for the road.
Establishing a mechanism for community consultations during the planning stages of infrastructure projects could ensure that designs more adequately meet local needs.
Implementing updated standards for road widths in future contracts to reflect the realities of traffic flow in residential areas.
Lancaster said that he recognized the complexity of managing multiple infrastructural projects across the country and applauded the ministry’s efforts to improve transportation networks.
However, he said that addressing these issues now will save the government from higher maintenance costs later and ensure the infrastructure meets the growing demands of the country. The Sunday Stabroek visited the ongoing road works in Tucville on Friday, observed the construction process and spoke with residents. Many of them expressed dissatisfaction with the project’s execution. One resident noted, “This road wasn’t wide to begin with, but now they’ve made it worse. It’s frustrating because we were promised better infrastructure, not this.”
Another resident said engineers had carefully measured and marked the road’s dimensions before construction began, but contractors seemingly ignored these guidelines. Moreover, the resident informed that the contract specifies a 12-foot-wide road, a standard that they feel is inadequate for residential streets like those in Tucville.
