A large buildup of traffic on the East Coast Demerara (ECD) turned chaotic after hundreds of passengers heading to the capital city were stranded for over three hours.
Vehicles at a standstill as the traffic build up on the East Coast Railway Embankment Road
The woefully inconvenienced snail-paced traffic was due to the ongoing road expansion project, which caused a section of the public road to be temporarily closed. The closure to vehicular traffic began on Saturday, December 1, 2018 from 08:00h, and is expected to end on Sunday, December 2, 2018 at 22:00h.
One commuter expressed frustration during the heavy traffic build-up, which he said worsens extensively during peak hours.
The ECD resident further noted that taxi services along Agriculture Road, Mon Repos to Estate Road and LBI have closed, while minibuses have also stopped working along that particular route. This, he noted, will only add to the traffic woes already being experienced.
It was noted that even though the Public Infrastructure Ministry’s actions are well intended and are welcome, failure to adequately and timely inform of closures and alternative routes would always lead to chaos in an already-heavily congested area.
“The traffic situation on the East Coast is a total mess, and the traffic Police are not making it any easier. I’ve been sitting in traffic for the past two hours, and I have not moved,” another commuter noted.
Another commuter said a woman who was in labour had to endure the traffic with no assistance from the traffic Police to rush her to the hospital. The commuter claimed that the woman gave birth in the midst of the confusion. However, Guyana Times has been unable to locate the family of the pregnant woman.
Earlier this week, the Public Infrastructure Ministry, in a statement to the general public, stated that the road stretching from Vryheid’s Lust to Chimney Road, Chateau Margot will be closed to facilitate bridge/culvert works under the East Coast Demerara Public Road Widening and Improvement Project.
It noted that as a result, traffic detours would occur in this proximity.
It was advised that persons residing in the vicinity of Vryheid’s Lust Road to the Montrose Bridge and Montrose Bridge to Chimney Road would be permitted to use the road to access their properties.
Motorists and pedestrians were asked to exercise caution and observe all safety and directional signs, particularly in the vicinity of the road works.
In an initial report, it was noted that the contractor and the Police are to meet soon to discuss possible remedies to the congestion on the East Coast with the hope of bringing much-needed relief to commuters.
