THE West Coast Demerara/East Bank Essequibo road, from Vreed-en-Hoop to Hydronie, is soon to benefit from a massive US$34.2M improvement project.

Transport and Hydraulics Minister Robeson Benn said so yesterday at its launch during a workshop held in the Georgetown Pegasus Hotel conference room.
A total of 31 kilometres of roadway will be rehabilitated, while 28.5 kilometres of footpaths for pedestrians and 20 kilometres for cyclists will be developed under an agreement between the Government and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).
The partnership is the fourth road improvement programme, with financing of US$46.7M and over five years.
The actual road improvement works are expected to be completed within two years, Benn explained, adding that the primary objective is to increase efficiency and safety of road transportation along the West Coast Demerara/East Bank Essequibo corridor.
The execution has several components, including the actual road works, road safety awareness at the level of the schools and community, capacity building, engineering services and project monitoring and evaluation.
Minister Benn lauded the continued support of the CDB and referred to its impact on national development.
He pointed out that infrastructural development has a multiplying effect on socio-economic advances in the country, particularly in rural communities.
Real challenges
“There has been significant growth,” he observed, adding that constrained infrastructural development poses real challenges to it.
Benn’s Ministry, according to the CDB agreement, will be tasked with maintenance, which was identified by the Bank as a risk to the sustainability of the completed works.
“We intend to continue to improve our in house capacities…we have made significant improvements in oversight but there is still room for improvement,” the Minister said, while cautioning local contractors, engineers and other stakeholders against substandard work.
He emphasised the importance of supervision to reduce the possibility of cost overruns.
“We intend to hold the line,” he said, alluding to the project time, schedule and quality.
He highlighted, too, the importance of Guyanese assuming ownership of the undertaking.
CDB Division Chief Andrew Dupigny, in his remarks, noted that the Government will be expected to report annually on its maintenance works.
He said that the monitoring and evaluation component of the agreement is key to ensuring standard and quality of such undertakings.
A project management team will be supported by a steering committee and the Ministry, all of whom would report to the CDB.
The Project Coordinator is Kester Hinds, while the CDB focal point is Glen MaCarvell.

Similar undertakings
Dupigny said the project design took into consideration sustainability and is a model that can be used for similar undertakings.
Coordinator of the Works Services Group in the Ministry of Public Works, Geoffrey Vaughn announced that the project design is complete.
About consultants for the programme, he said one has been identified and approved by CDB but will be named at a later date.
On the issue of challenges, Vaughn explained that vending on the roadways is something that will have to be dealt with and hinted at the possibility that the vendors would have to be removed.
Tenders for the project are expected to be put out in July.

(By Vanessa Narine)