Region 3 set for complete road overhaul, 30 more projects to be awarded

…68 road contracts already awarded

Thousands of residents across La Parfaite Harmonie, Onderneeming, Westminster and Lust-en-Rust in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) will soon see a complete transformation of their communities’ landscape as the government continues to award major projects in these areas.
During an inspection of ongoing projects on Monday, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill had announced that contracts for an additional 30 roads will be awarded soon.

Currently, a total of 68 internal roads, covering approximately 19 kilometres, are under construction across various communities.
In addition, the Public Works Ministry’s Special Projects Unit (SPU) is upgrading 28 kilometres of main access roads to asphaltic concrete.
Edghill explained that the massive roll out of works is aimed at fulfilling a commitment made by President Dr. Irfaan Ali to have all the roads in the region either upgraded or rehabilitated by 2025.
“What is important and I think it’s the biggest announcement that we can make – when we finish the 28 kilometers that is being done by the Special Projects Unit and the almost 19 kilometers that is being done with these 68 projects plus the other 30 projects that will come out along with works that are being undertaken by the Ministry of Housing, every road in this community would have been completed. There will not be one outstanding road… Just imagine 68 plus contractors working simultaneously as against 10 who would have won because they could under bid others and you have to wait and you have to wait for the project finish to go to the next one until you reach number 10 and you’ll finish sometime in 2027,” the Minister shared.
Edghill assured that all roads within the communities aforementioned will be completed by December 2024. Scope of works include road scarification, finishing with asphaltic concrete and clearing the shoulders of the road.
Meanwhile, Head Engineer of the Ministry’s SPU, Collin Gittens, disclosed that due to the community’s high occupancy rates the construction of major roads will occur at night and weekends to minimise disruption.
Providing an update to media about the progress of ongoing works, Gittens revealed that construction began in mid-September, the contracts have managed to acquire completion rates spanning from 10 and 55 per cent.
“So, we will have two teams working, one team will be doing all the preparation work and then we will have another team who will come in after and do all the asphaltic and finish work.

We will be working every day until we meet our completion because it’s a large amount of work that has to be done and of course these areas have people living with 70 percent occupancy… So far, we have done about four streets, preparation works in terms of replacing crusher run and later on we will be able to apply the asphaltic concrete,” Gittens disclosed.
Back in August, seventy-four contracts totalling $1.3 billion were awarded for road construction across several communities in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).
This was spearheaded after Minister within the Ministry of Public Works Deodat Indar.
At the time, the minister had indicated that the infrastructure development aligns with government’s broader regional development agenda, which aims to boost investment and improve the living standards of citizens. (G1)