The Government had made known its intention, during last year, to construct three overhead pedestrian walkways at Houston; Eccles; and Peter’s Hall, near the Demerara Harbour Bridge. A planned vehicle bypass for Diamond was also then announced.
Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, at a post-Cabinet briefing on Thursday, disclosed that Diamond will now be benefiting from an overhead pedestrian crossing. He said, “You would recall that I had previously announced the award of US$1M contracts for the construction of overhead crossings at Houston, Peter’s Hall and at Eccles. This is an additional overhead crossing that’s going to be constructed.”
A typical overhead pedestrian crossing
The Minister of State noted that a contract in the sum of US$364,727 was awarded to S. Jagmohan Hardware Supplies and Construction Services for work on the Diamond overhead pedestrian crossing.
Works are expected to commence shortly.
The Government Information Agency (GINA) reported that, according to Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Geoffrey Vaughn, the new overhead pedestrian crossings will have features which would enable the elderly and persons with disabilities to have an equal opportunity to use the bypasses.
Vaughn pointed out that the overhead pedestrian crossings “will be a normal design for those who may not be able to walk the stairs to get up to the bypass. The elevator will take them up, and they will go to the other side and get down. So there are some modern features that we’re looking at; we’re hoping that everything will work out for us.”
These initiatives are geared to eliminate congestion on the East Bank Demerara roadway.
