Cabinet to review plans to install traffic lights along Heroes Highway

The government is moving ahead with a plan to install traffic lights across the country, with a particular focus on Georgetown and its surrounding areas, including the Heroes Highway along the East Bank of Demerara (EBD).
A proposal for the installation of traffic signals has been finalised and will soon be presented to the Cabinet for approval. Extensive consultations have been conducted with law enforcement agencies and relevant stakeholders to ensure the plan’s effectiveness.
According to Public Works Minister Juan Edghill, this initiative is set to improve road safety and traffic management as urban congestion continues to rise.

“The Prime Minister concluded his work last week, and the full proposal of traffic lights across the country, more particularly the city of Georgetown and its immediate environment, will be going to Cabinet for endorsement in the next Cabinet. We have finished our work, the police, my people, all the agencies that were involved, and we are ready to proceed, once Cabinet gives us no objections,” the minister shared.
While the Heroes Highway remains a priority, Edghill explained that the project will extend to other critical areas in and around Georgetown, the East Bank, the East Coast, and Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).
Meanwhile, locations where new road projects are being executed under design-build contracts will have traffic light installations included as part of their respective agreements.
“It expands across Georgetown, the East Bank, the Heroes Highway, the East Coast going up, except where we have contracts for the building of a road, particularly if it’s a design build, traffic lights in those contracts are going to be catered separately from what we’re talking about and that includes Region 3 as well,” he explained. The installation of traffic lights is expected to significantly improve pedestrian and vehicular movement in high-traffic zones. Edghill emphasized that this measure is not just about easing congestion but also about enhancing road safety for all users, particularly vulnerable groups such as schoolchildren and visually impaired individuals.

“Traffic lights are crucial for ensuring safety. Whether it’s through signalized junctions, pedestrian crossings with audible signals for the visually impaired, or managing congestion near schools, these installations will make our roads safer,” the minister noted.
This initiative aligns with the government’s broader strategy to modernise transportation infrastructure, incorporating features such as improved pavements and geometric road enhancements. As traffic volumes continue to increase, such measures are critical in reducing accidents and ensuring smooth mobility.
Back in January, Minister Edghill had announced that Government allocated $2 billion from the 2025 Nation Budget to procure traffic lights, with the aim of addressing the country’s persistent traffic challenges.
Amid these developments, Edghill expressed optimism, emphasising that brighter days are ahead, though much work remains, and reiterated the need for nationwide implementation of traffic lights and related infrastructure.
“This is a good initiative, but it must be complemented by proper signage, traffic lights, and compatibility across regions. Traffic officers will be working on these improvements nationwide,” he declared at the time.