Linden-Lethem Road upgrade: Drivers urged to exercise caution as 25km under construction

…13 bridges also under construction

Road works are ongoing on the first 25 kilometres of the Linden-to-Lethem Roadway commencing from Linden, the Public Works Ministry has announced as it urged drivers to exercise caution when navigating the area.
In order to promote public safety, the Ministry shared on Tuesday that sections of the road within this area are paved with signs indicating where there are detours and speed humps. Drivers are asked to adhere to the posted speed limit within the construction zone.
Meanwhile, there are 13 bridges under construction between Mabura Hill and Kurupukari and 45 bridges between Kurupukari and Lethem; all active construction sites have warning and detour signs. All other bridges are open to traffic.
The Ministry recently installed 48 signs along the corridor indicating turns, narrow bridges, and speed humps; directional signs at major intersections were also erected for informational purposes.
“Due to the prolonged dry season, sections of the road are very dusty and drivers are urged to be careful when traversing in dusty conditions. Drivers are advised to keep to the left (as required) and use horns when navigating turns,” it was advised.
Traversing sections of the Linden-to-Lethem Road has been a nightmare for heavily-laden lorries over the past few years, with many toppling off the roadway. The bridges are even worse. Some vehicle operators would have to align the boards before attempting to cross. They do not always make it over safely.
The US$190 million contract for the road was signed in May 2022 with Brazilian company Construtora Queiroz Galvao SA for construction of the 121-kilometre road.
The project is being funded by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) via a US$112 million loan, a grant to the tune of £50 million (US$66 million) from the United Kingdom under the Caribbean Infrastructure Partnership Fund (CIPF), and an input of US$12 million from the Guyana Government. This is the largest grant Guyana has ever received from the Government of the UK.
With a 7.2-metre-wide carriageway, the Linden-to-Mabura section of the road is expected to feature a cycle and pedestrian lane measuring with metres wide, along with 10 bus stops outfitted with ramps for persons with disabilities.
Additionally, a number of bridges and culverts along the way will be replaced, and some 123 lights will be installed. In its commitment to this project, the Dr Irfaan Ali-led Administration had set aside some $3.19 billion in the 2022 budget for the construction of 32 bridges between Kurupukari and Lethem along the Linden-to-Lethem trail. This leg of the project is expected to last for three years.