Dear Editor,
REFERENCE is made to a letter published in the Tuesday, 18 September, 2018 edition of the Kaieteur News, under the headline, “Poor management on major road project is an indictment”, and written by an environmentalist.

The ministry wishes to respond to the claims made by the environmentalist, which highlighted the Sheriff Street- Mandela Avenue Road Project.

The Ministry of Public Infrastructure and the Supervision Consultants, Egis International, in association with SRKN’gineering, are cognisant of potential traffic delays often posed by road-enhancement projects and anticipated the traffic disruptions for commuters during the busy work week with especial consideration given to the reopening of schools. The consultants therefore moved towards the implementation of several measures to ensure effective traffic management by the contractor SinoHydro Corporation Ltd during peak and off-peak periods, including:

The release of public notices by The Ministry of Public Infrastructure with assistance from the Department of Public Information and Ministry of Public Infrastructure’s Facebook page. This was coupled with the use of GTT’s public service announcements (SMS advising the public of traffic disruption on Sheriff Street), the notification of the police commissioner in addition to several consultation meetings with residents and Mae’s School, including the Mayor and City Council, as these were key elements in our attempt to better manage anticipated traffic congestion on Sheriff Street.

To date the following measures are still in place to manage congestion along the roadway:
Restriction of work activities between 07:30hrs-09:30hrs from Second Avenue to Fourth Avenue, Subryanville.
Restriction to the blocking of intersecting streets during peak hours (07:30hrs-09:30hrs and 15:00hrs-17:00hrs)
Maintaining of two lanes of traffic during 07:30hrs to 09:30hrs, 12:00hrs to 13:00hrs and 15:00-16:00hrs.
Restriction of trucks from offloading materials between 07:30hrs to 09:30hrs, 12:00hrs to 13:00hrs and 15:00hrs- 16:00hrs.
Enforcement of a submitted Traffic Management Plan, which includes provision of flaggers, advance warning signs and barricades.
Barricade protection for all open drains.
Maintenance of 1m pedestrian walkways in work areas (demarcated by barriers)
Engagement of the Guyana Police Force
Advice to commuters to utilise other streets including Church Road
The above mentioned measures were implemented from Mondays to Fridays.
Best Regards,

Ms. Krest Cummings
Public Relations Officer
Ministry of Public Infrastructure