Govt identifies land at Golden Grove for new truck stop, parking facility

Sand trucks and other large vehicles associated with the construction sector have been parking along the East Bank Public Road corridor, but construction would soon begin on a truck parking facility at Block 18, Great Diamond, East Bank Demerara.
Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal, along with Deputy Director of Projects, Intakab Indarjeet, and surveyors from the agency, on Wednesday visited the site designated for the new facility.
Croal noted that due to a boom in the construction sector, the number of trucks traversing the county’s roadways has significantly increased. As such, he highlighted that to tackle the issue of truck parking along the East Bank corridor, the Ministry has allocated over 10 acres of land to be developed as a designated parking facility for trucks.

“In light of this boom, we needed to find a solution for these trucks. We have identified 15 acres of land on the East Bank of Demerara that will be developed,” he disclosed.
Croal added that the Ministry is looking to construct a similar facility on the East Coast. “We plan to implement a similar project on the East Coast of Demerara, resulting in a total of 30 acres for Region 4…,” he said.
Additionally, Minister Croal highlighted that similar facilities will also be constructed at several locations across the country: in Region Three (3) and Region Six (6), as well as one along the Linden/Soesdyke Highway.
“For the facility on the highway, we are considering a location near the junction, which will allow trucks to temporarily stop while waiting to load, or serve as a rest area for overnight stays,” Minister Croal highlighted.
Only last month, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill met with truck driver and revealed that Government is in the process of developing a plot of land for owners to rent a space to park their trucks and articulated vehicles.
Meanwhile, Government has implemented a ban on trucks parking in Ruimveldt reserves, following the removal of 11 sand trucks parked illegally at the Industrial Estate in the vicinity of DSL Cash and Carry.
Explaining the issue to the media following his engagement, Minister Edghill said, “The sand is finding its way into the factory, and it is contaminating the paint. This matter has reached the courts. We have come and have removed these truck drivers before. Just under two weeks, the police have come and have removed them. They have returned.”
The Minister noted that the truckers have attempted to negotiate with the Government for alternative locations to conduct their business. The situation has been further exacerbated by the truckers’ practice of dumping leftover sand on the reserves.
A sign and barricades would be erected at the site, and any truck found violating this instruction would be impounded. Additionally, traffic ranks of the Guyana Police Force would continue to monitor the area. In the interim, truck drivers would be relocated to an area in the vicinity of the National Hardware at Industrial Site, Ruimveldt.