— for full benefit of Linden-Lethem Road, say Region 10 authorities

REGIONAL authorities of Region 10 are of the opinion that for the new Linden to Lethem road to be of tremendous benefit to residents, a new bridge connecting Wismar to Mackenzie has to be constructed.
The current single-lane bridge is unlikely to facilitate the expected increase in traffic when the new road is completed.

A discussion of this nature was held between Linden stakeholders who recently met with representatives of the Private Sector Commission (PSC). The Lindeners raised the matter of building a new bridge, which had been up for discussion for some time now.
While there has been no definitive decision as to whether the current bridge will be expanded into two lanes or a new bridge will be built, the project is one that has been drafted in the Regional Democratic Council’s (RDC) five-year Plan of Action for Regional Development (PARD).
Regional Chairman Renis Morian on Friday said that no other official discussion has been done on the subject.

While the RDC’s PARD has outlined the project, he said that it falls under the remit of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MoPI) and no discussions have been held thus far.
“I haven’t heard any discussion about this, it is just unofficial discourse, there was talk about building a new bridge about five years ago but with the new administration, talks got a bit louder,” Morian said.
MoPI Permanent Secretary Geoffrey Vaughn said nothing pertaining to the bridge is being done right now, even though a feasibility study was being considered.

VARYING VIEWS
The Guyana Chronicle understands that stakeholders have held meetings about the new bridge, but there was no consensus since there were varying views about where the bridge should be located and whether the current one should be expanded.
Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland alluded to these discussions at the meeting held with the PSC and said that he believed that the bridge should be constructed at a new location, closer to Christianburg, rather than be expanded.

He said this should be done in conjunction with the construction of the new Linden to Lethem Road, since the current bridge cannot facilitate increase in traffic.
“I believe that it will be a disadvantage knowing that we don’t have the infrastructure coming down there, people won’t drive from Brazil to cross there; they won’t do that and even one truck tried turning around there and turned over. Even if you have three lanes, we have to do a lot more in terms of infrastructure work,” Holland said.
The Linden Mayor added that with the construction of the road, with the first phase from Linden to Mabura to commence soon, Linden should seek the opportunity to expand its horizon and establish itself so as to truly benefit from the road.

“We can have the bridge there to a certain way (pointing to the new location), expand Linden, open up Linden and it’s not a case where people will just pass through. No! Establish this is where the private sector has a chance to expand,” he posited, while urging the rest of the stakeholders, including the Linden Chamber of Commerce, to have an open mind-set in terms of expansion.
Linden Enterprise Network Chairman Klensil Grenville expressed fear that the road would be built and the town would be in the same economic situation as now, since no steps are being taken in preparation for the road.

“What will happen with that Brazil road is just what is happening right now, with billions of dollars passing through this town and we are not in the position to benefit from anything whatsoever. It will just happen in larger proportions or quantities and it will happen again. We have to move from ideas to initiation and sound planning,” he said.

CONSENSUS
Grenville urged the stakeholders to get their acts together and reach a consensus that will be of benefit to the economic breakthrough of the town.
“The time is coming so near and this thing is coming so fast, we will be in the same problem,” he said.
The Linden to Lethem Road Project will see the upgrade of approximately 122.5km of road (inclusive of drainage) between Linden and Mabura Hill, and the construction of a new single or dual-lane fixed bridge across the Essequibo River at the Kurupukari ferry crossing, a distance of approximately 600m.

The MoPI is currently advertising for consultancy services for a feasibility study and design for both the roads and Kurupukari Crossing.
The objective of the consultancy is to upgrade the most recent feasibility study that was done for the said phase one of the project, which is to be funded by the British government, through its UK Caribbean Infrastructure Partnership Fund (UKCIF) programme.

Meanwhile, motorists in Linden continue to complain about the inconvenience caused by utilising the single-lane bridge, which is controlled by a manual traffic system.
During peak periods, there is always a heavy build-up of traffic even though the bridge spans less than a quarter of a mile. The bridge enables access to both hospitals in the region and during emergency situations, it is deemed a challenge.
It is also regularly closed to facilitate repairs. The Guyana Chronicle was at the bridge when drivers became irritated over the long wait for the vehicles to cross from one side of the river to the other.

“This is real nonsense. This is ridiculous to be waiting so long to cross a short bridge and these men really don’t know to control this traffic,” shouted one driver as the others blew their horn as a display of impatience.