Work must begin by last quarter of this year – Min Edghill

ECD-EBD bypass road

With the Indian Government having approved the new scope of works for the redesigned bypass road project connecting the East Coast to the East Bank of Demerara, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill said they are hoping to commence works in the latter part of this year.

“We’re going out to procurement and then evaluation and award of the contract. Once we get the no objection, we’ll have the award of the contract. We’re working to get all of that finalised by the last quarter. Work must begin by the last quarter of this year,” Minister Edghill told Guyana Times on Sunday.
Since the project is being funded by the Indian Government, the contract will have to be awarded to a company from India.
“It is an Indian company that will have to be selected. So that process of getting out to procurement is being finalised,” the Public Works Minister added.
Back in 2015, the Indian Government had provided a US$50 million Line of Credit (LOC) for the road link that was initially slated for Ogle, ECD, to Diamond, EBD. However, the project cost was driven up to over $208 million by the previous APNU/AFC regime and the project was at a standstill since 2019.
However, when the PPP/C Government took office last year it redesigned the project into two phases – first from Ogle to Haags Bosch road at Eccles, EBD, which is about 48-50 per cent of the project, and then from Haags Bosch to Diamond – in order to fit the US$50 million LOC.
Because of these changes in the scope of the project, additional approvals were required from New Delhi and after several months, President Dr Irfaan Ali last month announced during his inaugural address to the 12th Parliament that Guyana got the green light to go ahead with the new designs.
Previously, Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr KJ Srinivasa, had told Guyana Times that once approval is given for the new scope of works then the process of Requests for Proposals and tendering will commence.
The bypass road will create a new highway in the backlands, allowing for an alternative route to the country’s two main thoroughfares.
This project will see a total of 26 kilometres of road being constructed with links to connect key communities in Georgetown and along the East Bank of Demerara. These include Diamond, Mocha and Eccles – all on the East Bank – and Aubrey Barker Road in Georgetown. These connections will prove crucial in diverting traffic.
In addition to the two-phase road from Ogle to Diamond, the Guyana Government is also looking to further extend the road to Timehri to provide alternative access to the country’s main port, the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).
When asked whether the Indian Government will also fund this third phase of the bypass road project, High Commissioner Srinivasa had said, “These are things which are still under conversation between the two countries…”
Meanwhile, Government has undertaken several new road projects along the EBD corridor to ease the heavy traffic congestion.
Currently, works are ongoing for another alternative road connecting Diamond and Eccles on the EBD corridor in order to ease the traffic congestion. The new alternative road will run from Sixth Avenue, Diamond, to the Windsor Estate Road that leads on to the Eccles Landfill Site Road. This will form a connection through the new Herstelling Housing Scheme and other schemes that are being developed along the EBD corridor. That project is near completion ahead of its April deadline.
Additionally, a second road is also being constructed between Eccles and Mandela Avenue, which will be completed later this year in November. Some 27 companies – both local and foreign – have submitted bids for the construction of the four-lane highway that will provide an alternative access road to ease traffic congestion along the EBD corridor.
In January, President Ali had explained that these projects are all a part of the Government’s drive to transform Guyana’s infrastructure and link communities.
“[This] is part of urban planning too. And we’re also working with the Police to ensure that we have security measures, lighting, Police presence and everything. Not only to have infrastructure, but to make sure it is safe,” the Head of State had noted.