…new DHB, ECD-EBD bypass slated for 2022 completion

SEVERAL major projects being undertaken by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, including the East Coast Demerara road expansion project, are nearing completion.
At the same time, once re-elected, the government will ensure that the new Demerara Harbour Bridge project as well as the East Coast Demerara-East Bank Demerara (ECD-EBD) bypass road projects are completed by 2022.

On Wednesday, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, told members of the media at the ministry’s boardroom that the road expansion project, which is being undertaken by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) was 93% completed.
He said the government received approval for use of the undisbursed sums from the China Exim bank which is financing the project and according to Patterson, those sums will go towards further expansion of the road.

He told reporters that the road works will now go all the way to Mahaica and, according to him, a team from the ministry had already examined the scope of works.

“My team has already done a design,” he said. He said that the works will continue from Belfield all the way to the junction of the Mahaica Old Road/New Road. Patterson also informed those present that a roundabout will be built at that junction.

He said the ministry plans to undertake further expansion of the roadway east until Rosignol. It was noted too that funding for the design of that aspect of the work had already been approved through the Kuwait fund.

On Wednesday, Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Jaipaul Sharma told the media that the CJIA expansion project was expected to be completed within the first quarter of this year. Sharma said that the project was 93% completed.”For the building aspect , we can say , 100% of it is being utilised,” he said.

He said other parts of the airport, including immigration and duty free areas had been handed over to the authorities. He noted that the runway and other minor kinks were being ironed out.

Meanwhile, Minister Patterson told reporters that the “main ingredients “ for the ECD-EBD road link were on the table and, according to him, if all goes the way of the APNU+AFC come March 2, 2020, that project will materialize and will be completed by 2022.

The Guyana Government, through a loan provided by the Government of India, entered into an agreement for the ECD –EBD road linkage project.

On Wednesday, Patterson said that studies had been completed as well as a final design for the project; the latter, he noted was being reviewed. The feasibility study for the road bypass was submitted by the Consultant- RITES Limited – a Government of India enterprise to the ministry in September 2018.

Minister Patterson also spoke about the new Demerara Harbour bridge which he noted will come to fruition under the APNU+AFC administration post March 2020. Patterson gave a 2022 completion date for that project.