Reducing traffic congestion & driver discomfort

Dear Editor,
Infrastructural development plays a crucial role in national growth, economic development and overall improving the quality of life for the population. In Guyana’s growing and transformative economy, we can see several major infrastructural upgrades and expansion of roadways including the Heroes Highway, Ogle to Eccles Bypass and the Railway Embankment four-lane highway project are just a few. All these projects represent a major step towards the enhancement of Guyana’s transportation network, reducing commute time, and stimulate regional commerce. However, like many large-scale infrastructure projects, the construction process itself often create significant inconvenience. More recently, prolonged traffic congestion, road safety issues, and overall discomfort for commuters have become some of the common frustrations along the Railway Embankment corridor during the project execution.
One of the primary observations made on traffic congestion during the road construction is poor scheduling and inadequate phasing of the work. Dividing the construction into manageable phases and ensuring only small sections of the road is closed or minimally traversed at one time. This approach is known as incremental construction phasing and it allows part of the road to remain open and functional while work is ongoing on other parts.
Additionally, contractors should be advised to schedule construction activities during off-peak hours such as in the night, weekends and during the day when traffic is not heavy. School was closed for about sixty (60) days and traffic on the road was significantly reduced, yet there was no major construction happening on the road. Bridges that could have been dismantled and reconstructed within that period to take advantage of the school closure was not done. School reopened on the 8th of September and since then to now there are six key bridges within close proximity that have been dismantled between Coldingen and Buxton with a bypass installed that can barely accommodate one vehicle. This is straightforward evidence of poor scheduling and lack of proper planning. Persons leaving home at 6:30 in the morning and almost two hours later would arrive in Georgetown. This affects both workers and school children, essentially creating a loss of productive hours.
In those areas where it is absolutely necessary for full road closure, the construction of temporary bypass roads is a proven method to keep traffic flowing. This provides a dedicated path for vehicles to avoid construction zones and avoid contributing to the traffic build up. On the East Coast corridor especially communities along the Railway Embankment area, where communities are densely populated and the traffic volumes are high, contractors should explore such opportunities to build temporary routes especially for heavy duty vehicles and public transportation (like was done on the Diamond/Grove area). These bypasses also relieve pressure on the main construction zones and improves workers safety.
Contractors should also try to incorporate prefabrication and accelerated construction techniques. Modern construction methods such as prefabrication and modular construction can significantly reduce on-sight construction time. Contractors should consider utilizing prefabricated components such as drainage culverts, bridge segments, and retaining walls. These can be manufactured off-site and then installed on-site, using cranes and other equipment. The Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) techniques have been used globally in order to reduce road closure duration from months to days. These methods create long-term savings in terms of reduced traffic disruption and improved public satisfaction.
Often, road construction projects are planned and executed with minimal input from the communities most affected. As such there should be an open line of communication with residents and businesses of affected areas. In understanding local travel patterns, peak hours, and community involvement there is need for better planning and execution of projects. As such, it is necessary for the contractors to plan their projects after discussions with the involvement of the traffic arm of the police force, public transportation operators, and all other relevant stakeholders to know the direct and indirect effects for road users. These engagements and involvement with those stakeholders will help the contractors and engineers to know about issues that may not be evidently known to them.
Other measures that can help to reduce traffic congestion and driver discomfort during the construction phase of the railway embankment road are improved road surface condition, contractors should ensure that temporary routes and bypasses are leveled, properly paved and free from potholes and unnecessary speedhumps. These routes should be regularly maintained to prevent damage to persons vehicle, enhance their safety, and comfort while driving. Another key measure is limiting certain class of vehicles from traversing the roadways during specific time periods, for example heavy duty machinery and trucks should be prohibited from the roadways during peak traffic hours.
There should also be a strict adherence to project timelines, and the relevant systems should be put in place to effectively monitor these projects. Delays in road construction are a major source of public frustration. Contractors must therefore ensure strict adherence to their project timelines by deploying a sufficient workforce, equipment, and material. Government should also work with the relevant agencies and contractors to promptly identify and resolve challenges in the procurement and administrative phases so that contractors have no excuse when they fail to comply with their project timelines.
The Railway Embankment four-lane road project is a transformative initiative for Guyana. It is poised to alleviate the chronic traffic congestion along the East Coast corridor and further support the country’s continued growth. However, it must be noted that the effectiveness of such transformative projects is not judged only by its final outcome but also by how well it is executed, especially with respect to the impact on everyday road users during construction. Therefore, by adopting the use of smart planning, effective communication, modern construction techniques, and community-focused engagements, contractors can significantly reduce traffic congestion and discomfort currently experienced by drivers. Such improvements will definitely lead to a more efficient project execution and also build public trust and satisfaction. This without a doubt will ultimately contribute to the project’s long-term success and legacy.

With Regards
Shivesh Persaud