Developing the roadways and providing safe transport are major priorities of the Ministry of Public Works and Communication. For a number of years the Ministry has been installing street lights in densely populated areas as part of continuing efforts to improve the standard of road infrastructure and maintaining the safety of road users.

A section of the newly installed street lights at La Grange, West Bank Demerara.

The Ministry is now executing a project costing $10.5M for the installation of 70 modern street lights from the western end of the Demerara Harbour Bridge to Canal No. One Polder, West Bank Demerara.

Nigel Erskine, Traffic Safety Engineer of the Ministry, stated that the work which began two weeks ago is 70% complete, and will be operational in another two weeks.

Residents of communities along the route are appreciative of the project since the area was void of street lights for many years. For the residents, the street lights will make their environment safer.

Street lights are also being installed in Anna Regina on the Essequibo Coast. This project which costs $11M is 90% complete and will be illuminated shortly.

On October 30, 2009, a contract was inked for the installation of 358 street lights along the populated areas from Vreed-en-Hoop to Parika, East Bank Essequibo. The resources are being mobilized for the project that will last for six months.

According to Erskine, the project is well on stream. The physical aspect of the work will begin shortly and some lights will be installed before the end of December.

Areas that are not densely populated and have not had street lights erected as yet have benefitted from improved road markings and road signs, including reflectors.

The Ministry will be installing street barriers around critical turns on the East Bank and East Coast of Demerara. The East Coast project will cost $36M in areas such as Coldingen, Hope, Unity, AtlanticVille, Ogle, Plaisance and Bachelor’s Adventure, while the work on the East Bank will cost $44 M and will be done at Craig, Timehri and Friendship. (GINA)