Works for concrete upgrade of Karasabai airstrip to start Monday

As the Guyana Government continues to enhance air travel for hinterland connectivity, the Karasabai airstrip will soon undergo major rehabilitation works.
The project, pegged at a total of $993 million, will see the airstrip transform from the current earthen track into eight inches of thick rigid paved concrete, spanning a length of 3000ft by 50ft, with a strength of 5000 SPI.

The airstrip will also be outfitted with 50 navigational lights to accommodate night operations, if necessary. It will also be painted to an international standard and outfitted with a parking space to accommodate five aircraft.
On Wednesday, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill and a technical team from the ministry, including Head of the Special Projects Unit (SPU) Colin Gittens, went to the Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) village.
The visit sought to engage with the residents and the Village Council of Karasabai, on the airstrip upgrade, which will commence on Monday, January 19, headed by the SPU.
“As of Monday, everybody should be on the job,” Minister Edghill told residents during the engagement.
Similar to other recent airstrip upgrades, the project takes on a community participation model and will see 50 local persons, both skilled and unskilled, executing the works that have an estimated 75 days duration.
During the meeting, the village was introduced to their members who will be executing the works.
In addition, Minister Edghill also announced, the company that will be supplying concrete for the project, International Import and Supplies, will also be gifting the village a terminal similar to the one that was designed to be built at Aishalton, also in Region Nine.
“So, when people come to the airstrip, they don’t have to sit down under a tree. There will be a building, facilities for washrooms [and] chairs… So, while we wait and there is rainfall, you [will be] in a secure place,” the Public Works Minister noted.
During the more than two-month construction period, the Karasabai Airstrip will be closed.
Further, to ensure accessibility at all times in the event of an emergency, immediate road works will commence today, to ensure that the road from Karasabai to Lethem is at a satisfactory level. This, the minister explained, is to ensure while the current airstrip is closed for construction, commute to and from the airstrip in Lethem is not fatiguing for citizens.
“During the 70 days or 75 days, that this airstrip will be closed for construction, we have to ensure that the road that links you with Lethem is improved, so that if there is any medical emergency or any situation, you can get to the closest airstrip in the shortest possible time…We’re going to start fixing the road,” Edghill stated.
Just last week, President Dr Irfaan Ali commissioned the newly rehabilitated airstrip at Aishalton. The $920 million project saw the Aishalton airstrip being upgraded from a strip of grass and mud into a 2,500-foot rigid concrete runway.
According to the Head of State at last Thursday’s commissioning, this investment to enhance the community’s infrastructure will play an important role in the diversification of Aishalton’s economy.
The Guyanese leader made similar remarks days prior when he also commissioned the recently upgraded $800 million Paramakatoi Airstrip in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).
These investments reflects the government’s commitment to enhancing the livelihood of all Guyanese, bridging the gap between coast and the hinterland.
In fact, with these new infrastructures, the Head of State had renewed calls for local air operators to lower the hefty fares for travel to hinterland locations. Already, several major plays have heeded these calls and slash their airfares.
These include Jags Aviation, Roraima Airways, Trans Guyana Airways and Air Services Limited (ASL).