MINISTER of Public Works, Robeson Benn on Thursday announced in the National Assembly that the feasibility study and designs for the rehabilitation of the East Bank Berbice Public Road are to begin this month.

Answering to question posed in the National Assembly by fellow government Member of Parliament, Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo, the minister confirmed that there are plans to rehabilitate this road which will be funded through a loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) under an agreement for road network upgrade and expansion.
While the feasibility study and designs will begin this month, Benn related that it is anticipated that, given the length of the road, civil works will commence in the first quarter of 2014.
And regarding the funding of the road, he pointed out that the feasibility study and design will determine the project cost, noting that the rehabilitation of the West Coast Demerara road, West Bank Demerara and Canal Polder roads are also being addressed under this loan.
In addition, the minister related that the government is requesting $20M in the 2013 National Budget under the ministry’s Miscellaneous Roads Programme which will be utilized to keep the road in an acceptable standard until the feasibility study, designs and funding are properly identified.
He further disclosed that the preliminary studies have indicated that 16 kilometers of road from Stanleytown to Light Town will be addressed. However, he emphasized that the final distances will be determined by the feasibility study and design, and the total length of road from New Amsterdam to La Prudence is 42.6 km.
In the meantime, he said, the Force Account Unit of the Public Works Ministry had carried out remedial works on the East Bank Berbice Public Road during last year July, August and September.
In addition, Benn noted that rehabilitation works were previously done in July 2005 and December 2006 on the last five miles of the road.
He further informed that the government last year had spent $10M from the Regional Programme and an additional $10M from the Miscellaneous Roads Programme to execute these remedial works.