THE Public Infrastructure Ministry will soon put a weight-restriction mechanism in place aimed at preserving roads in interior locations that are primarily used by miners and loggers.
Currently, a number of hinterland roads in Regions One, Seven and 10 are in deplorable states. In some areas, the roads have become impassable. But while continuous, heavy showers may be a contributing factor, the Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson believes that overweight trucks are equally damaging to these thoroughfares.

“We do have an issue, and the issue Sir is the question of overweight trucks…they have been wreaking havoc on the roads,” Minister Patterson told the National Assembly.
At the time, he was responding to a number of questions put to the floor by People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Member of Parliament, Bishop Juan Edghill.
Edghill questioned the Public Infrastructure Minister on the specific measures that have been taken to fix the impassable roads between Puruni Landing, Olive Creek and Papshao Landing, in addition to the stretch of road from Mabura to Kurupukari-Annai and from Annai to Lethem.

Painting a vivid picture of the situation, Minister Patterson said not so long ago an overloaded truck carrying 130 drums of diesel broke a Pontoon in the vicinity of Puruni.
“The limit for one of the bush trucks…The limit for a drum of diesel is 50. A truck with 130 drums of diesel went onto the pontoon and broke it,” the Public Infrastructure Minister pointed out.
He added that three bridges along the Linden to Lethem road were broken by overweight trucks already for July. “So that Sir, remains a tremendous problem for us.”

Between May and June, 2017, the ministry had little choice but to expend some $25M correcting damage caused by bush trucks plying the various interior routes.
In light of the age-old problem, the Public Infrastructure Ministry procured three automated scales to alleviate the problem in the most problematic areas.
“They are in the country, and we are about to deploy them into the areas,” the Public Infrastructure Minister told the House. According to him, the automated scales “are going to impose great control.” The ministry has drafted a Bill which is currently before the Attorney General’s (AG) Chambers.

The ministry has gotten the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to adhere to the weight-control measures that the ministry is seeking to put in place.
Responding to the specific questions posed by Bishop Edghill, Minister Patterson stated that two contracts have been awarded to fix the stretch of road between Puruni Landing, Olive Creek and Papshao Landing, in addition to a number of bridges.
He noted, however, that the road projects are awaiting improvement in the weather condition.

Some $100M has already been expended on the Linden to Lethem road with some $160M left to be expended. Contracts have also been awarded for the rehabilitation of sections of the Linden to Kwakwani road, in Region 10.
In the 2017 budget, the Public Infrastructure Ministry was allocated the sum of $2.3B for the rehabilitation of hinterland roads, and according to the subject minister, 83% of it has already been committed in contracts while 40% has already been disbursed. “The other 43% will be disbursed as the work progresses,” Minister Patterson noted, while adding that 17% of the budget has been unallocated.