THE sum of $176.5M is being spent on repairs and rehabilitation to the Linden/Lethem road and the work is proceeding satisfactorily and nearing completion, an Official of the Ministry of Public Works and Communications has disclosed. It is part of the programme being undertaken on the critical hinterland roadway for 2012, engineer in the Ministry, Mr. Naeem Mohamed  disclosed.
He said two segments, namely the Siparuni Junction to Kurupukari and the Kurupukari Junction to Lethem is more than 80 percent complete while the Linden to Mabura segment is just about 50 percent finished.
Mohamed said the seventy-two miles  long route,  from Meritezero, North Rupununi in Region 9 (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) to Monkey Mountain in Region 8 (Potaro/Siparuni) is also proceeding at a satisfactory pace.
The contract is being executed by Omai Gold Mines Limited (OGML) and the necessary culverts and bridges are being provided by V. Dalip and Cyril King, respectively.
Omai is doing its part at a cost of $259M.
Meanwhile, the  Karasabai to Monkey Mountain aspect involves raising earthen embankments and lateritic material overlay.
Cabinet, recently, gave its no-objection to the installation of thirty-four feet diameter concrete culverts in Karasabai costing  $87.9M and the construction of 300 feet of bridges in the Karasabai/Monkey Mountain area that would cost $53.5M.
Mohamed said OGML has already done more than 40 miles from Meritezero to Monkey Mountain and past Teperu, a village about 37 miles from Monkey Mountain.
“Good progress is being made given the very difficult terrain in which the work is being done,” he said.