Flaws to be rectified as Govt eyes August completion

Sheriff-Mandela Road expansion

With just four months remaining until the August deadline of the Sheriff-Mandela Roadway project, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill conducted a walkabout on Wednesday and analysed progress on the road expansion.

During an inspection of the project, the Minister said that he was satisfied that work was currently ongoing; however, not all sites had quality work.
The Public Works Minister, however, explained that much work has been stalled as a result of issues surrounding the laying of pipes by the Guyana Water Inc (GWI).
As such, he has ordered GWI Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shaik Baksh, along with his Ministry’s Project Manager, to finalise these plans no later than Wednesday evening.
He noted that after the laying of the pipelines was clarified, works could continue.
“At the Lamaha Bridge where we stopped, Mr Shaik Baksh and Mr Greene, my contractor, have to conclude today (Wednesday) definitively where the pipes are going, because that is what is hindering the contractor from making the bypass,” he explained.
Moreover, he explained that the contractors of the Arapaima Bridge have encountered issues with the testing of the piles. He, however, noted that this should be resolved by today, thus allowing for the continuation of works on the bridge.

Working during curfew
Meanwhile, Edghill highlighted that traffic at the Sheriff Street-Railway Embankment roundabout has also led to the slow pace of the rehabilitation of the road. He added that with the works taking a lengthy time to be completed, cars were unable to traverse freely.
“Just the fact that we haven’t just yet asphalted this section, the whole traffic is slowed up on a daily basis. So, my instruction is to get on with the work,” he told contractors.
On this note, he explained that work would commence from the Sheriff roundabout to the National Cultural Centre in the evenings during curfew. Edghill detailed that this would cause the contractors to work without disruptions.
“They are going to work at night when the curfew hour begins. So, at 10:30 at night when there is a curfew hour, we will be able to get the paving done at night until morning at 4:00am when the curfew hour is lifted,” Edghill explained.
He further told contractors to rectify all issues and to remain consistent.
In addition, the Minister noted that there has been much concern about the rough finish of the roads. Nevertheless, he explained that he spoke with engineers and contractors, who informed him that the road was slated to be paved for a final time by an international company – Surrey Pavers and Aggregates.
Work on the Sheriff Street-Mandela Avenue Project began August 2018, with the contract awarded to Chinese company Sinohydro Corporation Limited since November 2017.
However, there was a period in 2019 when the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) halted funding for the project owing to health and safety violations by the contractor.
The matter was further compounded by the election impasse, but following the return to office of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government, the IDB was re-engaged.
The road upgrade project is being funded through a US$66 million loan.
The project involves the relocation of utilities; the installation of lane and shoulder improvements; placement of sidewalks and paved shoulders; traffic signals, traffic signs, streetlights, drainage; a pedestrian overhead walkway; culverts, bridges, and a roundabout.