WORKS along the East Coast Demerara (ECD) to East Bank Demerara (EBD) bypass road are progressing well, with the concrete works on roads and bridges at Lot Five completed, and finishing touches taking place.

Lot Five of this project is managed by S. Jagmohan Construction; the company’s Senior Engineer, Avinash Dyal, on Saturday, in providing an update on the company’s progress, stated that they are “wrapping up” works and it should be fully completed by May 10, 2023.

Dyal said that the project required the company to build 800 metres of concrete road. The project also entailed the construction of eight reinforced concrete bridges. The final bridge, which links Lot Five to Lot Four, was completed in mid-January as they laid the last slab.

Overall, he related that they are moving apace with the project. A US$106.4 million contract was in June 2022 signed for the construction of the first phase of the ECD to EBD road linkage project.

At the signing ceremony, which was held at the intersection of the Rupert Craig Highway and Ogle Road on the East Coast of Demerara, it was announced that an India-based construction company, Ashoka Buildcon Limited, will take on the project, which is expected to be carried out over 24 months.

The first phase of the road is expected to be a four-lane highway that stretches some 7.8 kilometres, with each lane being 3.6 metres wide. The road will also feature a median, sidewalks, and several structures along the way.

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh had said this massive project is being supported through a concessional line of credit worth US$50 million from the Export-Import (Exim) Bank of India.

He related that the road is not a stand-alone project, as it cannot be seen in isolation from what is happening across the rest of the country.

“Each one of these projects must not be seen as stand-alone or isolated projects unconnected within an elaborate and comprehensive masterplan; an elaborate and comprehensive plan for the transformation of infrastructure across Guyana,” Dr. Singh said.