Stockpile of over 30,000 tonnes of aggregate causes damage to Providence Road

The Public Works Ministry on Thursday sought to fix the massive destruction caused to Red Road, Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD) after a section of the road suddenly bulged more than five feet above surface level.
Public Works Minister Bishop Juan Edghill and his team conducted an assessment of the roadway, making a preliminary pronouncement of the cause of the unusual occurrence.

“We have a bulge that has taken place that has raised that road almost between six and eight feet in some places. My engineering team has examined what is taking place, and believes that it is as a result of the weight of the stockpile of aggregates that is on the extension of the parking lot of the stadium that has caused the movement of the earth,” Edghill said.
Some 150 metres of the road were destroyed, as the total tonnage of aggregates in the stockpile amounted to 30,000. In order to ensure repairs are executed, the Public Works Minister advised that traffic along the roadway be restricted.
“The weight of the stockpile needs to be redistributed. That activity has started; the team is here moving the weight of the stockpile into different areas, so as to redistribute. We have already mobilised two emergency contractors who will be arriving on the scene shortly,” Edghill said.
“The equipment will begin to work, and the intent is that we’d have to do a full reconstruction of this section of the road,” Edghill said.
He noted that prior to the team beginning any digging, they will be engaging the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Co. Ltd. (GTT) and the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) to ensure there are no fibre optic cables that may be damaged in the process.
“For full disclosure, the stockpile is maintained and owned by the Ministry of Public Works. So, we’re not blaming any agency for it, it’s a Ministry of Public Works stockpile,” Edghill said.
“Lessons will be learned from this, and you will agree with me that you have passed here before and you’ve seen stockpiles of aggregate and stone at this very same area before. This is an unusual event,” Edghill said.