– President Ali says it will modernise East Bank corridor

IN addition to the Ogle to Diamond bypass road, the government is also pursuing the opening of a new link to connect communities on the East Bank of Demerara.

This was confirmed on Saturday by President Dr Irfaan Ali, who indicated that the creation of the new thoroughfare is expected to significantly cut commute time for thousands of residents, while modernising the corridor.

President Ali and a team, including Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, visited the proposed locations on Saturday to check the alignment and interconnection and discuss ways of getting a quality product in a short time, a press release from the Office of the President noted.

“Because of the immediate need to ease the congestion, we are now building this alternative connection….all the traffic from the back would not go to the front; they will drive through the feeder roads to reach Mandela Avenue,” the Head of State said.

He clarified that the Eccles to Mandela Avenue link is different from the one being constructed at Ogle to Eccles-Diamond highway. The first phase of the new East Bank road will run from Sixth Avenue Diamond, all the way to Eccles. This, according to President Ali, is expected to be completed and ready for vehicular traffic by April 2021. The second phase of the project, likely to be completed by November, will see the construction of a four-lane connection from Eccles to Mandela Avenue.

President Ali charged his team to expedite the process, while ensuring quality of the finished product.

“Let’s focus on bringing an end to traffic problems on the East Bank….All of this is to bring ease, fastest commute time, less wear and tear on vehicle, greater efficiency, the amount of man power we lose in the traffic is not sustainable for our development, not sustainable for our citizens, the aim is to improve our standard of living and quality of life by reducing travel time,” the President emphasised.

MASSIVE MODERNISATION

Dr. Ali said that in addition to being a tangible link geared at easing the usual traffic congestion along the East Bank corridor, the new road will also enhance the quality of life for residents. The Head of State also hinted to the strategic establishment and placement of a Government hub which would boast of a new school, as well as outposts for the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana Fire Service and an Emergency Medical Services unit.

“This is part of the infrastructure transformation and integration of communities, because now Diamond, Prospect, Eccles, Herstelling, Covent Garden, Mocha all these communities will be integrated.”

The press release outlined that the government will also be upgrading a number of roadways within the Diamond Housing Scheme, which should further enhance travel time within that community.

President Ali, according to the statement, also proposed having a modernised security system which would include the erection of police towers and a “Wi-Fi system connected to cameras which would automatically ticket drivers.”

“We will have tower-to-tower connection, so if someone is speeding at tower one, that person would be caught on camera and can be stopped by police at tower two. We need to look at smarter, safer and more modern ways going forward,” President Ali asserted.