Tenders for design consultancy out – Patterson

Linden/Lethem Road upgrade

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson has stated that the upgrade of the Linden to Lethem Road will commence sometime next year.
Speaking at a recent public event, the Public Infrastructure Minister disclosed that Government has already embarked on the tendering process.
“The tender for the consultancy to start the design of the first quarter – which is from Linden to Mabura – is out now. It is anticipated that, with the tenders in, the works will commence in 2018,” Patterson stated.
It was previously reported that the Government is seeking to engage a consulting firm that is multi-disciplined and transport sector-experienced to assist in preparation of the two-component capital project.
The components in the project’s first phase include covering approximately 122.5 kilometres of laterite road from Linden to Mabura Hill, including drainage, and the construction of a bridge across the Essequibo River at the Kurupukari ferry crossing, which is some 600 metres long.
This phase is being funded by the United Kingdom (UK) Government through its UK Caribbean Infrastructure Partnership Fund (UKCIF) programme.
In September 2015, former UK Prime Minister David Cameron had announced a £300 million investment in vital new infrastructure, such as roads, bridges and ports, to help drive economic growth and development across the Caribbean region. Guyana was named among nine Caribbean states to benefit from the grant.
The final cost of Phase One of the project is not yet known, but will be determined by the detailed design study being funded by the UKCIF.
While the proposed road upgrade applies only to one section of the Linden-Lethem road, Patterson also outlined that, in the meantime, Government is looking for a suitable partner for the second phase of the capital project, which includes completion of the remaining 331.5 kilometres of laterite road from Mabura to Lethem.
In fact, Government had engaged the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) on possible funding to complete the second phase. Junior Public Infrastructure Minister Annette Ferguson had met with officials from IsDB back in January and had made a pitch on the project.
Moreover, talks in this respect were held between Guyana and Brazil during a bilateral engagement in July.