THE Ministry of Public Infrastructure has finally embarked upon its long-awaited project, which is expected to start in mid-2019 and conclude before the end of the year. This was made known by Minister David Patterson.

Residents of Diamond and its surrounding areas are thanking the coalition government for the implementation of a project that will link different geographical areas within the community. In addition, community members are excited about the proposed new car park and market.

Presently, it is very difficult for residents to come in and go out of the scheme at certain times during the day. According to residents, police ranks are usually needed to direct the traffic, but the problems remain.

“Unless we leave this house before seven, we would never reach to town. Driving or travelling is very dreadful to go to work and to come home from work”, exclaimed a concerned resident.

The project was altered from the intended overhead entrance due to a compact between the former government and the popular M and M Snackette.

The government has been able to accumulate lands from the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), which is located between the Guyoil Gas Station and DDL. Thus the Topco Juice plant and the solar farm will be relocated to allow construction of the new roads.

The first part of the project involves the building of a new car park and market in the land provided by DDL. Taxi drivers, ever so often, complain about the amount of space they are given to park cars and appreciate this new venture, as it will open a gateway to obtain more passengers. One driver stated that only six to 10 cars can be accommodated in the limited space now available, while Diamond currently has close to 30 car drivers seeking space to park their cars.

On the other hand, market vendors are very happy because the current conditions under which they sell are not encouraging. Vendors usually have to face the hardship of dust blowing over their greens from the main roads and loss of sales, because buyers driving by do not want to pull up in the chaos between the vendors and drivers.

The other part of the project involves the expansion of the road from the main road, along the northern side of the Guyoil Gas station, to inside of the First Avenue, Diamond.
“We are forever grateful for this expansion. Diamond is a very big area with over 1000 residents and one entrance to come in and out wasn’t enough. What if something drastic happen on the roadway, then we are most certainly trapped in or out. I view this project as a well invested project”, a shop owner highlighted.

Apart from these projects, a road linking the East Bank and East Coast roadways is expected to be established. An estimated cost of $11 Billion will be invested in this project from the Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of India.