While construction of overpasses along the East Bank Demerara Highway is expected to be completed by year end, those facilities have not been opened because the elevators are now being manufactured.
The pedestrian overpass at Providence, East Bank Demerara
Coordinator of the Work Services Group (WSG), Geoffrey Vaughn, explained that the elevators will be installed and be operational by March of 2018, to cater for the pedestrians using that highway.
Addressing a media conference on Thursday, the WSG coordinator said, “The contractors are presently wrapping up the project in terms of the overpass itself. The only thing left to do is install the elevators.”
Some pedestrians have been seen utilising the overpass, especially at Peter’s Hall, EBD, and Vaughn has said a decision would have to be made as to whether to officially open them.
“We would have to have that discussion with the ministers, to see whether they would want us to go ahead and have it opened, or we wait. Because it is a disadvantage to those unable to use the stairways,” he told reporters.
In October, Project Manager (ag), Donor Programmes (Ministry of Public Infrastructure), Mark Greene, had said that works were moving apace and are on schedule for the November deadline.
Greene explained that works completed thus far include provision of all bonds, insurances, guarantees, mobilisation, permanent relocation of utilities, and site clearance.
Foundation works, including piling, pile caps, concrete slabs, fabrication and erection of superstructure, stairways and landings (ongoing), and a revetment at Diamond and installation of main overpass structure are complete, along with a canopy at the Providence site.
Earlier in the year, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, had announced that a US$364,000 contract was awarded for the pedestrian overpass at Diamond, and a US$1 million contract for those at Houston, Peter’s Hall and Eccles.
The construction of the overpasses at Houston, Eccles and Peter’s Hall were awarded to B&J Civil Works, while those at Providence and Diamond were awarded to S. Jagmohan Hardware.
When completed, the pedestrian overpasses would not only eliminate congestion on the EBD road, which is among the busiest in the country, but would also keep pedestrians safe from fatal accidents.
