–among big projects catered for in Public Works Ministry’s $149.5B budget

GUYANA’S ongoing transformation through the expansion of the country’s infrastructure system is set to continue, with $149.5 billion proposed in Budget 2023 for the advancement of major projects this year.

In presenting the government’s massive fiscal plan to the National Assembly on Monday, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, said for the year 2022 some $67.9 billion was expended to improve road connectivity across all 10 administrative regions in the country.

Of that amount, some $39.8 billion was expended on miscellaneous, urban and hinterland roads while some $27.8 billion was spent on the construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of bridges.

Projects that will commence and continue with funding from Budget 2023 include:
* Government plans to inject $5.2 billion to propel works on the New Demerara River Bridge. Preparatory works have commenced on the first high-span, four-lane permanent hybrid concrete and cable-stained structure.

* Discussions to continue on the Corentyne River Bridge which links Guyana to Suriname is forging ahead.

* Works on the Linden to Mabura road, which will be linked to Lethem will be accelerated in 2023. Some $11.9 billion dollars is budgeted to advance the historic project.

* The Wismar Bridge, which will provide direct linkage to the Linden to Mabura corridor and onwards to Lethem, is also budgeted for.

* Construction of the Kurupukari River crossing bridge is well underway.

* $38.5 billion was allocated to construct, rehabilitate, and maintain community roads, particularly in underserved areas.

* $5 billion to support the rehabilitation of the Linden to Soesdyke Highway.

* $10.3 billion to advance the construction of the East Coast to East Bank Road linkage project from Ogle to Eccles.

* $4.1 billion to support the clearing of a right of way between Diamond and Good Success and the construction of an alternate bypass road between Diamond and Grove.

* $16.6 billion was allocated to advance the upgrade of the East Coast railway embankment road into a four-lane highway, from Sheriff Street to Orange Nassau and the continuation up to the Mahaica River Bridge.

* $27.7 billion to upgrade and widen the Palmyra to Crabwood Creek Road into a four-lane highway.