Public Infrastructure Ministry announces upcoming works

ECD road expansion

The Public In-frastructure Ministry has announced upcoming projects under the Sheriff St-Mandela Avenue Road Enhancement Project so as to enlighten commuters and drivers on the operations and possible deviations for the next two weeks.
Works are scheduled to commence at Cummings Canal on Sheriff Street, including the relocation of water pipes and works along Dennis Street and Durey Lane between Middleton Street and Stone Avenue. There will also be the construction of a detour at Cummings Canal and the phased reconstruction of the bridge at Cummings Canal.
Meanwhile, the construction of another Mandela Avenue culvert is scheduled to commence.

Presently, works are ongoing at Sheriff Street from the Rupert Craig Highway to David Street – primarily backfilling of the drains on the eastern side and Guyana Water Inc (GWI) works and backfilling on the western side.
Drainage works are being continued from John Smith Street to Fourth Street on the eastern side and from Second Street to Durey Lane on the western side along with additional works on Mandela Avenue behind the Botanical Gardens.
The Arapaima culvert has reached its second phase of construction with works on the eastern side.
Motorists are being urged to exercise caution when traversing these areas and maintain a speed limit of 20 kilometres per hour at the construction zones. An alternative route to avoid delays is also recommended.
Meanwhile, works continue on the US$50.2 million East Coast road expansion project, which has two components. One features a four-lane expansion of the road from Better Hope to Annandale and the other caters for an upgrade to the existing two-lane road from Annandale to Belfield.

Guyana had received a US$45.3 million concessional loan from the China EXIM (Export-Import) Bank to finance the road project, and that agreement was signed in January last year.
The previous Administration had tried to secure financing for the road expansion project, but the money was not readily available.

Hence, the then Administration decided to use local funds for preliminary works while it awaited the release of funds from the Chinese to complete the works. The preliminary works for the four-lane upgrade were completed at the end of 2014.

With the China EXIM Bank putting up most of the funds for the road expansion, Guyana had awarded the contract to China Railway First Group for some US$42.7 million. The Chinese construction company reportedly put in the lowest bid of US$46.994 million. The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration had stated that it was saving some $2.8 billion by giving the contract to China Railway First Group.
Upon completion of the widening and improvement of the East Coast Demerara Highway, citizens travelling along the East Coast will benefit from reduced travel time and less traffic congestion. Apart from the road being expanded, the project includes improved drainage for the East Coast, which is usually susceptible to floods.