US$75.8M EBD road expansion: 24-hour construction ordered by Govt to fast-track delayed project

The East Bank Demerara (EBD) Road expansion project, which is estimated to be 78 per cent complete, stands at 62 per cent – a development that will now force contractors to ensure teams work on a 24-hour basis in order to meet the December 2026 deadline.

In light of the project lagging behind, President Dr Irfaan Ali met on Wednesday with China Road & Bridge Corporation (CRBC), consultant Sheladia Associates Inc, and engineers, where he emphasised the importance of the project and its timely completion.
The President underscored that the focus was on the contractor’s strategy to bring the works back on schedule. The project is currently about 62 per cent complete but should have been closer to 78 per cent.
To address this, the contractor noted that teams are working on a 24-hour basis and that additional crews will be deployed at the extreme ends of the project from June 20, 2026, to accelerate progress.
The Head of State also directed that wherever subsurface works have been completed, those sections should be fully finished, and he stressed the need to prioritise fixing encumbrances and entrances to residents’ homes expeditiously.
The project is expected to be completed before Christmas this year and will provide residents and commuters along the East Bank, especially those travelling to and from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), with a faster and more efficient route.
Back in April, it was reported that the improvement project covering the stretch from Good Success to the Timehri Police Station was 50.96 per cent complete.
The site engineer had told the Guyana Times that no section of the project has been fully completed, but Section B (Supply-Soesdyke Junction) was the most advanced, with 73.94 per cent of works already completed.

This project, he had reported, was behind schedule, as the planned progress at this stage was 70.7 per cent. The projected completion date is March 31, 2027.
However, in light of recent downpours, he confirmed that the contractor is facing some delays.
The US$75.8 million project is divided into two sections. Section A runs from Good Success to Supply, while Section B continues from Supply to the Soesdyke Junction. The project was later revised to four lanes from the Timehri Police Station to the Soesdyke Junction.
Meanwhile, the road expansion works have been contributing to heavy traffic congestion during peak hours. To address this, meetings were held with the contractor, and discussions were focused on better coordination between roadworks and traffic management to reduce delays for motorists who traverse the busy corridor daily.
Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken, and Traffic Chief, Mahendra Singh, summoned a meeting with the Region Four B Traffic Department where ranks were briefed on the need for continued traffic regulation and monitoring along the corridor to ensure safety and maintain order during the construction period.
In addition, ranks attached to the Madewini Police Outpost were also brought up to date with the strategies for effectively managing the heavy traffic along the corridor.
The top cop had emphasised the importance of proactive traffic regulation, increased visibility, and coordinated efforts to ease congestion and ensure the smooth flow of vehicles.