OFFICIALS of Region 10 are calling on the Ministry of Public Infrastructure to return the portable bitumen plant to Linden so the region can carry out needed road repairs and construction. The plea was made by Regional Chairman Renis Morian who posited that the region had benefited tremendously from the outputs of the bitumen plant that was loaned to it last year.
“We need your (Minister of Public Infrastruture) support again with the Bitumen Plant in Region 10.
“…we are not doing chipsy but bituminous surface roads in Region 10,” he stated.
With the availability of the plant, the bitumen produced will not only be used for the construction of community inroads, but for roads leading to the Kwakwani, Ituni and other interior locations.
The presence of a bitumen plant is nothing new in Linden as the bitumen used to construct the Soesdyke-Linden Highway was produced right in Mackenzie. During this period, the town benefited tremendously as it aided in the development of the region and the provision of jobs.
Residents are anxiously awaiting the construction of community roads which have deteriorated further as a result of the recent rains.
Some of these are the Main Street in Amelia’s Ward, the Teachers Hostel access street, the Self Help Scheme access road, Block 22 access roads and the Fair’s Rust access Road.
“We begged, we pleaded, we tried self-help, but it is beyond us,” the residents of Main street Amelia’s Ward, Linden, stated.
“We need help, for years we are begging,” a resident stated.
Regional Chairman Renis Morian said $55 million was allocated in the last budget for roads and advertisements for tenders have been put out.
Some of the communities which will benefit from road repairs are Blue Berry Hill, Self-Help Amelia’s Ward, Rainbow City, Kara Kara, Canvas City, New Silver City and Wisroc.