Eccles dumpsite road mostly completed; bridge outstanding – Min Croal

The widening and upgrade of the Eccles Landfill Road also known as the ‘Dumpsite Road’ is mostly completed with just the construction of a bridge yet to be finished.

This was revealed by Housing and Water Minister, Collin Croal on Sunday during a telephone interview with the Guyana Times. He told this newspaper that the road, which connects to Heroes Highway at the Eccles Roundabout or Jaguar Roundabout, is currently drivable and is already being used by nearby residents. However, works are still ongoing in two lots.
Closer to the East Bank Demerara (EBD) Public Road intersection, a bridge is currently under construction there.
“Most of the road is drivable right now but one of the lots will be completed by mid-January; that’s the lot closest to the East Bank Public Road. There is a bridge that is to be completed there but work is ongoing. It’s not that the contractor is behind but basically that lot had the most technical work to be done,” the Minister explained.
This publication understands that the works on the bridge are about 50 per cent completed and should be wrapped up by the third week of January.
With regards to other outstanding works, road rails are currently being done at another lot, which is closer to Windsor Estate Road, but those works are not affecting the smooth flow of traffic on the new four-lane road.
“So, basically most of the road is completed. There is only just that one lot that is being completed,” Minister Croal posited.
Back in September, Croal had pointed out that this road widening project aligns with the Government’s broader objective of crucial connector roads to the East Bank thoroughfare, ensuring greater traffic flow and enhanced connectivity throughout Guyana.
“Well, that road is intertwined in terms of the massive plan as a result of where we’re placing the [new Demerara River] bridge. You know, the [Eccles Dumpsite or] Industrial Road has always existed. But the reason why we have to widen that is because of the volume of traffic that is flowing. So, if you’re coming from the East Bank, it’s one of the main access points.”
“Then when the Ogle to Eccles Four-Lane Road is complete, you’ll be able to connect and come all the way to the East Bank without having to turn because you’ll meet the Eccles roundabout and then go to the main road. The [new] Demerara Harbour Bridge is landing at Nandy Park. Following that, there are a number of connecting roads that will be done. And one of where it will flow into will be the Eccles Industrial Road,” Croal had outlined.
Works began several years ago on upgrading the Eccles Landfill Road with an initial cost of $1.2 billion, however, it was later extended in keeping with the transformation of the Guyana’s infrastructural landscape.
Minister Croal noted that as the project progresses, commuters can anticipate improved infrastructure that will facilitate more efficient travel experiences.
Back in April 2022, the $2.3 billion four-lane Eccles-to-Mandela Highway was opened, thus providing an alternate route to bring relief from the heavy traffic on the EBD during the morning and afternoon rush hours.
The project, which was executed by the Housing Ministry’s Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), represents the construction of the country’s first fully concreted four-lane highway, with dual carriageways of two lanes each and joint reinforced concrete pavement.
Late 2023, the Eccles to Diamond four-lane road was commissioned and named the Heroes Highway, in honour of the five Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ranks who died days before in a horrific helicopter crash.
This four-lane road project is a result of efforts by the President Dr Irfaan Ali-led Government to ease traffic congestion on the East Bank, which not only leads to the country’s main port of entry – the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) – but also fields traffic coming from West Demerara.