THE Ministry of Public Works (MWH) yesterday inked an agreement with BK International and Surrey Paving Aggregate Company Limited for implementation of the US$46.7 Fourth Road Project, which is intended to improve the state of the West Coast Demerara/East Bank Essequibo Road.Subject Minister Robeson Benn, speaking at the signing ceremony yesterday, deemed the project another step forward for the Ministry of Public Works and for Guyana as a whole.
He said the Government of Guyana received financing from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) when a loan agreement was signed with the CDB on February 25, 2013 in regard to this project, catered for in the 2014 budget.
OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT
The project, expected to officially commence in January 2015, will specifically focus on increasing the efficiency and safety of road transportation along the West Coast Demerara Road from Vreed-en-Hoop to Hydronie, East Bank Essequibo.
The objectives of the project, Minister Benn said, will be achieved through six components that would be implemented: Road Works; Road Safety Awareness; Capacity Building; Road Works’ Supervision, Monitoring & Evaluation; and Project Management.
He added that works would result in pavements being rehabilitated; the road being widened to separate pedestrians and cyclists from motorized traffic; traffic lights and road markings being installed and additional highway lights being provided; the Groenveldt Bridge being replaced; and utilities being relocated while extension culverts would be constructed.
The Minister noted that the companies awarded the Agreements are expected to do a very good job because of their huge credibility.
Minister Benn said that Surrey Paving Aggregate Company Limited might not be known in Guyana, but it is one of Jamaica’s leading engineering firms and it has successfully completed many works with the CDB.
Each of the awarded companies took the time to assure the Guyanese public that works would be completed in a timely manner and to the best of their respective abilities.
OTHER DEVELOPMENTS
Minister Benn said the Ministry of Public Works has been working assiduously to complete other projects on the agenda. He said rehabilitative works are being done on roads along the West Coast of Berbice, and that works on the East Bank Four-Lane Road project have been progressing well. He noted that other projects have been progressing at a very good rate as well.
Minister Benn also noted that the Public Works Ministry would be continuously looking for ways in which to develop Guyana’s Infrastructure.
(Navendra Seoraj)
