-project 80% completed; delay due to traffic management, weather

EXPANSION of the East Coast Demerara (ECD) highway is projected to be completed by December 31 2019.

“Due to the unforeseen circumstances experienced, the road works are now projected to be completed by December 31, 2019,” said the Ministry of Public Infrastructure in a press statement on Tuesday.

A progress report on the project was given to Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Jaipaul Sharma, who conducted an inspection of the ongoing works on Monday. Minister Sharma was accompanied by a team of engineers from the ministry, as well as by representatives from the contracting firm China Railway First Group.

During his visit, the minister had a first-hand look at some of the ongoing works, particularly the construction of bridges, completion of the roads and installation of street lights along the roadway.

The contract for the expansion was signed in December 2014 under the previous administration, but actual upgrades to the road commenced in 2017 and were scheduled to be completed in September 2019.

The project will see about 7.4 kilometres of road from Better Hope to Annandale being upgraded to a four-lane structure and 9.5 kilometres of the two-lane road from Buxton to Belfield being rehabilitated.

The contractors assured Minister Sharma that they are equipped with the manpower and equipment to efficiently complete the project by December.
The minister was told that the project is about 80 per cent completed. He was told that three bridges along the expansion sites are to be completed, as well as the installation of street lights, traffic signals and road markings.

So far, about 70 street lights have been installed and are working. Approximately 100 more lights are to be installed along the four-lane road and about 205 will be placed on the two-lane road.

Although much work has been completed, the minister was told that the project was delayed by traffic management and the extended rainy season.
According to the contractors, they could not have worked at the pace they wanted to because it would have caused a back-up in traffic along the site. It was further explained that the works required that the road be destroyed before rehabilitation commenced. This had caused traffic to move slower at such points.

Contractors also complained of suppliers not delivering materials on time, thereby contributing to a slower pace of work. The removal and relocation of utilities within the project area, similarly contributed to a delay in the completion of road works.
Despite the odds, Minister Sharma said he was satisfied with the work done so far and hopes that it would be completed on time.

Over at Mon Repos, Minister Sharma inspected the works conducted at the market tarmac to facilitate the vendors. He observed that not many stalls were occupied, but was told that vendors usually make use of their stalls during weekends to ply their trade.
In 2016, the government and the People’s Republic of China signed a GYD $9.6Billion (US$45.5Million) concessional loan agreement for completion of the widening of the road between Better Hope and Belfield.