Work to commence soon on new Linden-Soesdyke Highway

– residents informed of massive, long-term development plans

After years of anticipation, President Dr Irfaan Ali has assured that works will soon commence on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway, where extensive works are planned to cater to the economic expansion and increased traffic that comes with it.
According to the President at a recent community roundtable discussion, development along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway will also see numerous employment opportunities being generated. Ali noted that based on his directive, residents along the Highway are to be given first preference.
“Very soon, you will see the new Linden-Soesdyke Highway, works commencing on the new Linden-Soesdyke Highway. As you know, on this old highway, we have many challenges. And you know the growth of traffic on this highway, I don’t have to tell you. The growth of traffic has been enormous.”
“The growth and the type of proposals we are having, for tourism, agricultural, industrial facilities. New housing developments on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway, are just enormous,” President Ali said.
He noted that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government’s plans were geared for the long term, to ensure monumental changes are made. He noted that the changes being implemented would be felt at both the macro and micro level.
“And as this development continues to evolve, you will get higher value lands here, you will get greater demand for land. So, we have to ensure that the development and the building of the communities are done in a very systematic way, and one in which we can have discipline in the development phase.
“The plans of the People’s Progressive Party are not short-term plans, there are long-term plans to make monumental changes in your life, to ensure that you, this generation, the next generation, and the successive generation, all live in a position of prosperity,” President Ali said.
Included in the macro changes are Silica City, for which the master plan will be unveiled at the upcoming Building Expo, as well as plans for the construction of the Diamond-to-Busby Dam Road, linking to the Timehri four-lane highway.
“We also have, for example, the new city that we’re building. And you will see the beauty of this city when we launch it at the Building Expo. We have completed all the development context, the development framework, the plans, and how the city will be laid out. So, the entire country will see how the city will be laid out.
“We have started a new highway. From Mandela, all the way to Busby Dam now. We’re going to award soon the contracts from Busby Dam to Land of Canaan. And we’re actively engaging developers so we can come from the Land of Canaan to Soesdyke. So, you’ll have a second new highway, from the Linden- Soesdyke Highway, all the way to Mandela,” President Ali added.
Upgrading the Linden-Soesdyke Highway involves the rehabilitation and reconstruction of 73 kilometres of the road, with two lanes undivided, nine bridges, and six culverts with improved design, quality, and standards. It also includes ancillary works and road corridor improvements providing essential public administration support, and improved connectivity with communities, and roadside and other facilities.

The scope of work also entails milling of existing asphalt surface course, application of varying pavement structures above the milled sections of pavement inclusive of asphalt, sand asphalt, and sub-base; full-depth pavement reconstruction in certain sections, construction of two roundabouts along the alignment, sidewalks extension to nine multi-span bridges, drainage work, and utility relocation, and installation of roadway lighting.
Last year, the PPP/C Government signed a US$200 million agreement with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), aimed specifically at financing the reconstruction of the Linden-Soesdyke Highway, and only one day after, a US$150 million agreement was inked with the Saudi Fund to finance infrastructural development works for the housing sector and construction of the Wismar Bridge.
Additionally, the Government had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the IsDB concerning the Country Engagement Framework for Guyana’s green, resilient, and sustainable infrastructure as well as for supporting economic diversification and doing business. And in this year’s budget, $10 billion had been approved for the rehabilitation of the highway.
Meanwhile, with its potential to become the nation’s most sought-after location for contemporary, environmentally eco-friendly living, Silica City is a significant advancement in Guyana’s developmental approach toward a sustainable and climate-smart future.
In addition to green areas and other facilities, the state-of-the-art development will include smart homes outfitted with the newest energy-saving technologies. In February 2023, some $2.1 billion worth of contracts were signed to expedite these efforts.