Works 70% complete, project to conclude in August – Edghill

Sheriff St, Mandela Avenue upgrades

…as Govt mulls roundabout at Vlissengen & Lamaha Sts

Works on the Sheriff Street-Mandela Avenue project are 70 per cent complete, and Public Works Minister Juan Edghill remains optimistic that with a day-and-night work schedule, the contractors can complete work by August.
This was revealed by Minister Edghill on Wednesday in an interview with the media, during his inspection of works. According to him, he has mandated that work be conducted day and night in an effort to make up for lost time.
“It’s about getting the work moving and keeping the eye on the August deadline that have me out here making sure that whatever needed to be done, is done. We had to remove some pipes, the GWI (Guyana Water Inc) pipes to allow for the diversion,” the Minister said.

“That is completed and I said to them, day-and-night work. Let’s get it done… we gonna make it. We’re about 70 per cent. Might be just above. The road widening is going pretty well. We had some good days of sun, so work is moving quicker.”
Edghill also explained that work was ongoing to complete the Arapaima bridge on Mandela Avenue. He noted that two lanes have so far been completed on the bridge, which will be partly opened today to facilitate traffic.
“These bridges must be completed by the 28th of July. Both bridges. So, with the movement that they are making now, they have all the materials. The slabs and everything are there. It’s just a matter of working and making up lost time,” he said.
The road upgrade project is being funded through a US$66 million loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Work on the Sheriff Street-Mandela Avenue project began in August 2018 by Chinese company Sinohydro Corporation Limited.
However, there was a period in 2019 when the IDB had halted funding for the project owing to health and safety violations by the contractor. The matter was further compounded by the election impasse, but following the return to office of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government, the IDB was re-engaged.
The project, which will cover approximately seven kilometres of roadway, involves the relocation of utilities; the installation of lane and shoulder improvements, sidewalks and paved shoulders, traffic signals, traffic signs, streetlights, drainage, a pedestrian overhead walkway, culverts, bridges, and a roundabout.

Roundabout
Meanwhile, the Government is also considering a roundabout at the intersection of Vlissengen and Lamaha Streets, to help reduce traffic congestion and to cater for a growing economy and with it, increased traffic.
Edghill made the intersection a part of his tour. The Minister revealed to the media that he has instructed his Chief Works Services Officer to look into having a roundabout built at the intersection.
“Apart from Sheriff Street, this is an artery that brings in a lot of East Coast traffic and persons exiting the city. So there have been a lot of congestion here and long delays… the long-term suggestion is that I’ve just instructed my Chief Works Services Officer to get his team and by Friday afternoon, bring in the conceptual designs and the possibilities of putting in a roundabout at this intersection.”
“Because ultimately, the more permanent solution will be a roundabout. So while we’re making the adjustments, we have to look also for the long term… so ultimately, a roundabout is coming to Lamaha and Vlissengen and Irving.”
According to him, money for the roundabout is likely to be sought through supplemental funding. In the interim, Edghill explained that the technical officers will be observing the traffic flow, to better calibrate the traffic lights.
“The first thing we did was to time what’s happening with the lights to make sure that the lights are properly timed in keeping with the flow of traffic. So, for the next three days, the traffic signals department will observe the traffic patterns and then we will make further decisions,” he said.
“But as of today, they have adjusted the lights. And it is the adjustments that I was just observing. We have maintained the same amount of time to clear the intersection, but we have adjusted the time at the various spots.”
The Minister further assured that arrangements would be made for traffic management.