-150 feet of bridges also completed
CHIEF Roads Engineer, Ministry of Public Works, Leon Goring, in a recent interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA), said that the hinterland roads project which encompasses 600 miles of interior road networks, linking Amerindian communities to centres of commercial and social activities, is moving apace. In Region 9, for instance, the road from Karasabai, to Monkey Mountain, in Region 8, has always been something that has been agitated for by residents of the community.
“This road segment is now being attended to by Omai Gold Mines Ltd; and to date, they have completed 19%, starting from Meritezero junction heading inwards…along that segment, heading to Monkey Mountain, 150 feet of bridges (12 bridges) were constructed as at December 31, 2011, in addition to two others that were completed during the year,” Goring said.
Goring said too, that provided favourable weather persists, the entire segment of road from Karasabai to Monkey Mountain will be completed in a timely manner.
“We have received concerns from the residents of Karasabai that the roads have not yet reached them, but this is due to the heavy setback caused by torrential rainfall which resulted in flooding to the Region 9 areas during 2011…we are confident that we are going to be making amazing progress, if the weather holds up, with the contractor we have in the area,” Goring said.
While impressive progress is being made in the other locations, contractors are experiencing challenges in the stretch of road from Lethem to Aishalton; nevertheless, works there are ongoing.
“V. Dalip is now working between Lethem and the Rupununi River, in the Katoonarib area…despite spotty weather from June, 2011, onwards; the contractor has been working diligently and has completed about 80% of the works…concerning the section from the Rupununi River Bridge up to Aishalton, the last report was that the weather was improving there, and BK International was preparing to mobilize to commence works,” Goring said.
Goring also noted that the ministry has undertaken a different approach in the execution of its roads contracts.
“This road contract is unlike previous contracts…the contractor has to establish a 12-month presence on the roadway…apart from the works, they will have maintenance camps situated within their area, staffed with a minimal amount of machinery, equipment and personnel, to execute maintenance works throughout the year…this is in force along the Linden- Lethem route,” Goring said.
Government, in its efforts to continue modernising and transforming the country’s road networks, budgeted $291M for the construction of the Linden-Lethem road in 2011. An additional sum of US$1.1M was invested for the completion of a feasibility study for the construction of a four-lane all-weather road from Georgetown to Lethem.
Such a roadway is expected to catapult Guyana’s economy as it will establish stronger ties with neighbouring Brazil, which in turn will see Guyana being used as a major transshipment hub for Latin American countries shipping their produce to North America.
This is seen by many as Guyana pursuing its ‘Continental Destiny” with its Latin American neighbours.