Linden to Mabura Hill Road: Project to be fast-tracked as contractor directed to boost workforce

…as new US$35M Wismar/McKenzie bridge 36% complete

Works on the Linden to Mabura Hill Road, which has an updated completion date of October 2025, is likely to receive a shot in the arm with the contractor being instructed to bring on even more teams of workers to fast track the work.
In an interview on this publication on Tuesday, Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill was asked about the Linden to Mabura Hill road. The US$190 million project is being executed by Brazilian firm Construtora Queirozñ Galvao S.A and it was announced in January that the road would now be completed in October 2025.
Edghill admitted that he was not satisfied with the pace of works and noted that the contractor had been told to bring on more teams of workers. He noted that the contractor will be expected to increase his pace.
“My understanding is that the contractor has been told to engage more teams, to get the work moving faster. Because they have a contract, that is to be executed within a particular time,” Edghill said.

Meanwhile, he also provided an update on another project within the region, this time on the Wismar/McKenzie bridge. He explained that this project, which is being constructed by China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) and has an end date of April 2026, is 36 per cent completed.
The Linden to Mabura Hill Road, which would eventually reach all the way to Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), is a vital road network that is being utilised by thousands of persons who transport goods from the coast to the inland regions of Guyana.
The previous condition of this road had posed significant challenges for commuters and transport operators. Heavily laden lorries frequently toppled off the roadway, and deteriorated bridges required manual alignment of boards for crossings, often with unsafe outcomes. However, when completed, the pertinent piece of infrastructure would significantly improve connectivity between Linden and the inland regions of Guyana.

This project is being co-financed by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) through a US$112 million loan, a £50 million (US$66 million) grant from the United Kingdom (UK) under the Caribbean Infrastructure Partnership Fund (CIPF), and US$12 million from the Government of Guyana. It marks the largest grant Guyana has ever received from the UK.
The road will boast a 7.2-metre-wide carriageway, a two-metre-wide pedestrian and cycle lane, and 10 bus stops with ramps for persons with disabilities. Additionally, the project includes the replacement of multiple bridges and culverts, as well as the installation of 123 lights along the roadway.
Works on the Linden to Mabura Hill road started in 2022, but there were delays after the contractor halted works between June and August 2024 due to procurement challenges, which resulted in downtime.
Meanwhile, the construction of the new US$35 million Wismar/McKenzie bridge is being executed by China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC)– the same company that is constructing the new US$260 million bridge across the Demerara River.
This project involves constructing a 220-metre-long precast concrete bridge with vital features such as lighting and other safety features. It will also boast a maximum horizontal clearance of 32 metres and a vertical clearance of 11.5 metres. The new bridge will land some distance away from the original single-lane bridge built by the Demerara Bauxite Company from 1965 to 1967.
When completed, the pertinent piece of infrastructure will play a crucial role in strengthening trade between Guyana and Brazil by positioning region 10 as a key player in international commerce and economic growth.