As Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson on Monday officially opened the Kitty roundabout, plans were announced to construct two more of the structures, which will help to ease traffic congestion and wastage of time.
The Minister also announced that he expected a waterfront project to be completed by 2019, which will accompany the Kitty roundabout as a tourist destination in the country.
“During the course of this year and next year, there will be two additional roundabouts in two equally important areas,” Patterson stated.
According to Patterson, the two planned structures are scheduled to be erected at the Timehri junction, East Bank Demerara and at the corner of Mandela Avenue
Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson; Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes; Minister within the Public Infrastructure Ministry, Annette Ferguson; Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Deputy Mayor Akeem Peters cut the ribbon to officially open the Kitty roundabout
and Sheriff Street, Georgetown, under the Sheriff Street road expansion project.
While the Minister did not elaborate on the details of the planned Mandela Avenue and Sheriff Street roundabout, he reported that works for the Timehri roundabout have begun by Gaico construction for the sum of $74 million.
He told the small gathering at the opening ceremony that the Kitty Roundabout project was undertaken after several phases to ensure its robust design and that it met its objective. It was explained that the project initially began with the upgrade of Carifesta Avenue, followed by the replacement of drainage pipes from Vlissengen Road and Carifesta Avenue to Kitty. Subsequently, the contract for the East Coast road expansion was renewed to help ease traffic congestion and finally the roundabout was constructed.
Traffic now utilising the Kitty roundabout
Although the new structure was officially opened, the Minister agreed that there were still a few finishing touches to be added.
As such, the centre of the roundabout will be beautified with flowers from each Caribbean country, in keeping with the name Carifesta Avenue, Paterson pointed out.
“We have some traffic lights to be installed here and obviously the traffic lights will be for particular issues (like) pedestrian crossings…we have some painting of the medians and the curbs…with reflective paints,” he added.
“We will be doing a waterfront development from Kitty Pump Station all the way back to the Pegasus Hotel, whereby we will be upgrading it into a commercial space…the consultancy has already been awarded,” the Minister highlighted.
He was keen to note that he was expecting a report in the coming months, which would detail the scope of works for the project and importantly, the price.
The Minister while noting that the specified area is already a tourist destination as it is, said the Government has been taking into consideration issues such as waste management and sewage disposal among others. He said, however, that he was hoping that the project could be completed by 2019.
The Kitty roundabout was initially to be opened by May 26.
While persons remain curious and uncertain about the use of the structure, the Ministry is urging road users to visit its Facebook page to have a better understanding of its use.
Earlier this year, the contract for the project was awarded to S Jagmohan Hardware Supplies and Construction Services in the sum of $78.9 million. The decision to construct a roundabout at this busy junction was made after a sinkhole had formed nearby.
The roundabout is expected to reduce waiting and stoppage time for motorists heading to the East Coast of Demerara and those using Carifesta Avenue, Vlissengen Road, and the Kitty Public Road.
