THE government is being applauded for recognising the importance of building, rebuilding and maintaining proper road networks. The paving of the roads in the township of Lethem is another beneficiary of this policy.

The Ministry of Public Infrastructure announced this week that through contractor JR Ranch, it has commenced asphalt testing on the construction/rehabilitation of road networks in Lethem. On Monday, 100 meters of road was selected as a sample to test the application of asphalt on the road. Based on the results from the sampled 100 meters, the ministry said it will refine the asphalt where needs be, and the official paving is anticipated to commence on Monday, May 27, 2019.

Such infrastructures, aside from being aesthetically pleasing, are important for nation-building. Roads are intrinsically linked to the growth and development of society, impacting people, communities and commerce. In the 21st Century, making the aforementioned possible has to cater for, as a matter of priority, issues such as safety, construction quality, Guyana’s low-lying coastlands, and the different types of road users, including vehicular traffic.

As a matter of fact, there needs to be a rethinking of the widely-held perception that construction only requires the throwing of bitumen and levelling it off, without regard as to how the shoulders are treated. As government continues to develop the road infrastructure, we have seen the efforts to take into account that pedestrians, too, have a right to use the roads and that safety mechanisms, such as street signs and walkways, have been constructed along Woolford Avenue and elsewhere. In complex societies, consideration should also be given to what types of roads are needed, given location in proximity with communities, and where there are open roads or proximity to homes, what safety precautions are necessary.

Safety must continue to be a premier focus, and should be applicable to occupants of vehicles as well as pedestrians. Speed bump zones and run-off areas on the shoulder of the road where the vehicles of disabled persons can park or be able to pull off to as against staying in traffic and impeding its flow, are also worthwhile of consideration in the construction process.

Modernisation should have a corresponding impact on construction. Such modernisations would recognise the various types of traffic, present and forthcoming, and planning for it. In Guyana, the same road is used for every type of vehicular traffic, be it commercial, industrial or agricultural. From a donkey cart to an 18-wheel tractor, to a hymac – which has metal wheels that degrade the material used to construct the road – all are allowed usage. It means road construction has to be more durable, or there needs to be more regulations.

In other societies, for instance the United States, certain vehicles are not zoned or permitted to go on certain roads. For instance, if construction vehicles are being transported on some roads, they are seen being towed on a vehicle that has rubber tires, which is intended to prevent damage to the road. Certain roads also have weight restrictions. Another area that has been given much attention is the creating designated walk areas; and where this may not be possible, installing speed bumps, stop signs, or police officers sitting there with speed cameras and handing out speeding tickets, with penalties stiff and enforceable. There must be severe consequences for bad use of the road in order to eliminate bad usage.

Preventing accidents through not only road safety regulations, but also having the benefit of the input of safety associations that pay attention to high-risk points for accidents, deaths, and what are possible causes is also beneficial. This can inform the implementation of systems to minimise the chance of causalities, physical or else. The review of regulations and where needs to revamped or overhauled should be up for consideration. In the actual construction process, government oversight needs to be a priority, including placing a premium on the importance of scientific research and advancements, such as pedestrian and vehicular usage, time and frequency, and their impacting factors. Guyana can benefit from the best practices of other societies and those with similar dynamics.