Linden-Soesdyke Highway needs urgent attention

– residents, officials

Urgent calls are mounting by motorists and officials for the resurfacing and lighting of the Linden/Soesdyke Highway, which according to many is in dire need of attention.
This comes in the wake of several serious accidents along the highway over the years. Citizens are urging the relevant authorities to inspect the Bamia stretch where numerous fatal accidents have occurred. National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) employee Abiola Gomes became one of the latest road fatalities along the Bamia stretch, adding to a list of fatal accidents that have occurred in the Bamia area recently:
National Agricultural Researcg and Extension Institute (NAREI) Abiola Gomes, of Long Creek, was travelling along with colleagues Tyrone Phillips, 31, of Cultivation Block road, Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara (EBD) and Litesha Lindrow, 23, of Hauraruni, Soesdyke/Linden Highway, all NAREI employees.
According to reports the Crop Extension Officers were travelling in a CRV bearing license plate PTT 1643 when it hit a depression in the Bamia stretch which caused the driver, Phillips, to lose control of the vehicle, resulting in it toppling several times. The occupants were all rushed to the Linden Hospital Complex where Gomes, who was flung from inside the vehicle later succumbed to her injuries. The others were treated and sent away.
Reports indicate that only recently, Lindener Rawle Adams and Police Constable Ishaan Caines died under similar circumstances after the vehicles they were travelling in reportedly hit a depression in the highway along the Bamia stretch.
The state of the Soesdyke/Linden Highway has been a topic of discussion for past and present officials of Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Berbice) for years.
Only recently councillors of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) made calls for proper markings, signs and lights to be erected, siting that without those elements the highway is a “dangerous” one.
Former Regional Chairman Sharma Solomon had also made several calls during his tenure for close attention to be paid to the state of the Soesdyke/Linden highway.
Present Chairman Renis Morian has indicated that the highway falls under the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, therefore it is the responsibility of that ministry to carry out rehabilitative works.
This newspaper spoke to several drivers and citizens who traverse the highway. One experienced driver indicated that the Bamia stretch should raelly be improved: “If you don’t take your time when you driving at Bamia you could easily lose control. Especially for somebody who don’t really know the road, they could easily get carried away. You does really got to take your time when you driving there.”
A resident of Linden who traverses the highway frequently also bemoaned the conditions along the stretch: “You know how long this highway build? Since I was a lil boy. And they never put light on it. Highways does need lights. Look, when you go to Trinidad and them places you does see how the highway well lighted. Why we can’t get lights on the highway after all these years? I think is high time the Ministry of Public Infrastructure do something about it.”