Diamond-to-Timehri road upgrade to commence this year

…completion of bypass routes pave way for works to start on Grove Public Road

Works to upgrade the East Bank Demerara highway from Diamond to Timehri are slated to get underway in the first quarter of 2024.
This is according to Public Works Minister Juan Edghill during his Ministry’s end of year press conference on Friday last.
“[The project] would be funded by the IDB and we already have a contract in place. So, early in new year, you will see major, major work [starting],” the Minister said.

Last year, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved a US$117 million loan for the rehabilitation of the EBD corridor under its Programme to Support Climate Resilient Road Infrastructure Development.
The contract for this loan was signed in March 2023 and will see the IDB providing US$100 million while the Guyana Government will provide the remaining US$17 million for the project. The programme is expected to support a 23.5-kilometre climate-resilient road from Good Success to Timehri.
A Chinese company had won the contract for this road upgrade from Good Success to Timehri. The section from Good Success to the Soesdyke Junction will be a two-lane upgrade with the installation of dedicated bus stops and pedestrian lanes.

In addition, Government is looking to widen the section from the Soesdyke Junction to the Timehri Police Station into a four-lane road. This expansion will be funded by the money being provided by the Government.

Grove Public Road
Meanwhile, the section of the EBD corridor from Diamond to Good Success will be upgraded by the Special Projects Unit (SPU) of the Public Works Ministry.
During last week’s press conference, Minister Edghill said the Grove Public Road is the section that has been giving them “a real headache” since road users often complain about the state of the road, where bulges and potholes are often developed thus causing traffic congestion.
In order to facilitate the upgrade of the Grove Public Road, several alternative routes have been constructed including a new bridge linking Caneville aback Grove and Diamond Housing Scheme at Third Avenue or First Bridge as well as a new road from Diamond to Buzz Bee Dam in Craig.

“We have completed the bypass. We can actually dig up that road and start construction and people can still get to travel.”
“The bridges are in place, new paved roads are in place [and] all people need to do is to see the signs [for the diversion] and that now gives us the opportunity to excavate all the sap and do the sand-filling and put in a road that could take what is required there,” Edghill noted.
According to the Public Works Minister, the issue with the Grove road is the western lane being utilised by laden trucks that transport timber, sand, stones, loam or containers into the city.
“The road wasn’t built for that kind of tonnage and I think the life of the road is long gone so we gotta get that done. So, this year, you will see major upgrades there,” the Minister noted.
Only Thursday last, the Public Works Minister along with other officials met with stakeholders in Grove and reassured them that the Government will ensure the successful completion of the planned road development project starting at Diamond/Grove.

Residents along with representatives from the Diamond/Grove Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) met with Edghill and a technical team from the Ministry for a consultation on the project.
During the engagement, a PowerPoint presentation detailing the upcoming works, changes, and improvements along the route was shared.

Inconvenience
Meanwhile, Edghill has reminded residents that development comes with some level of inconvenience and urged their support in this regard. He said with proper coordination between the Special Projects Unit team and the contractor, the road works from the Diamond area to Timehri should go off smoothly without hindrance to the travelling public.
The team has also introduced a feedback mechanism process for persons with questions, concerns, or comments about the project. An email address will soon be published in this regard, however, in the meantime, persons can call either of the following numbers 227-0799 or 225-4742.
Since taking office, the Dr Irfaan Ali-led Government has introduced a series of new road networks along the EBD corridor to ease traffic congestion since it is the main thoroughfare that leads to the country’s main port of entry – the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) – and also feeds traffic coming from West Demerara.
The first phase of the massive road project was the $2.6 billion Mandela-to-Eccles road, on which construction started in April 2021. This road was commissioned in April 2022.
For the second phase, the four-lane road was extended beyond Eccles all the way to Great Diamond, East Bank Demerara. The $13.3 billion Eccles to Great Diamond highway project saw 12 companies contracted to construct the four-lane road to run from the Eccles Dumpsite Road all the way to Great Diamond, connecting to the already completed Eccles to Mandela Avenue Highway.
This section of the road was commissioned in December 2023 and named the “Heroes Highway” in honour of the five Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ranks who died in the horrific helicopter crash on December 6.
These projects run alongside the India-funded bypass road project which would link the East Bank Demerara corridor to the East Coast of Demerara (ECD), creating a new highway in the backlands. (G8)