COMMENCING today, persons commuting along the Bartica-Potaro road, from 4 Miles to 5 Miles in Region 7, will enjoy a lit journey as 20 LED lights will be installed throughout the thoroughfare.

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, issued this declaration on DPI’s One on One programme on Monday. “I estimate by Christmas the [LED] lights will be up,” Minister Patterson asserted. This complements efforts by the Ministry, with assistance from the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), to install 80 solar street lights, in several hinterland communities.

Roadworks at Four and Five Miles have already been completed. The finished product is a concrete rigid pavement, an upgrade from its former muddy surface.
The upgrade of the Bartica-Potaro road opens a window of opportunities for miners and residents in Regions Seven and Eight, as the main roadway will successfully link Bartica to Mahdia.

Phase one of the project entailed the rehabilitation and construction of 200 metres of roadway along with drains, while phase 2 saw the completion of approximately 500 metres of road. In the final phase, 1000metres of the road were fully upgraded. $328M was invested by the Public Infrastructure Ministry to construct the Bartica-Potaro road from 4 Miles to 5 Miles. This was done while numerous portions along the route that leads to Region 8 had been completed.  These roadworks are being executed to reduce the disparities that may exist between the coastland and hinterland communities.