–despite inclement weather

DESPITE the inclement weather conditions over the past few weeks, Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, is optimistic that the four-lane highway from Mandela Avenue, Georgetown to Eccles, East Bank of Demerara, will be completed by November of this year.
Works on the $2.3 billion highway commenced on April 14, 2021 and was initially scheduled to be finished by December 10, 2021; however, speaking with the Guyana Chronicle on Tuesday, Croal said that he is “pushing” for completion by November, 2021.
The minister is hopeful for the completion of the highway in spite of the difficulties which may arise due to the recent heavy downpours.
He acknowledged that there may be some “inconveniences,” but he is optimistic that the contractors, who were awarded the project, will work in a manner to meet the deadline.
The project is divided into six lots: Lot one – Eccles, EBD; Lot two- Agricola; Lot three – Rome; Lot four – Houston South; Lot five – Houston North and Lot six – South Ruimveldt, and was distributed among six different contractors. The combined total of the winning bids to construct the four-lane highway is $2,356,914,515.

The contractors awarded are: Lot one – GuyAmerica Construction Inc; Lot two – a joint venture among MTSUL Construcoes Limited, M&PA Investments Inc. and Consturora Cobra Eireli; Lot three – Puran Bros. Disposal Inc; Lot four – Joint Venture between Collin Talbot Contracting Services and Eron Lall Civil Engineering Works; Lot five – Aronco Services Inc and Lot six – JS Guyana Inc. Croal related that due to the nature of the contracting firms, given that they are all of large capacity, he does not expect them to “drag out” the project as smaller contractors often tend to do. The four-lane highway, which comprises a dual carriageway of two lanes each, will have a jointed reinforced concrete pavement.

The Housing and Water Minister confirmed that stockpiling, among other works, were being conducted; however, difficulties may arise due to rainfall which would have affected the soil condition. Croal took the opportunity to inform residents living along David Rose Street, Georgetown, which connects Caneview Avenue and Aubrey Barker Road, that it is imperative that trucks and other machinery traversing the thoroughfare to access the four-lane highway project, may cause some damage to the road.
The minister acknowledged that residents, who reside along David Rose Street, had previously complained of the dire state of the road due to trucks and machinery traversing. In response, the minister has committed to maintaining the road during and after the project.
Once completed, the four-lane highway will aid in reducing the traffic congestion along the East Bank of Demerara corridor.