due to pressure exerted by storage of 30,000 tonnes of aggregate nearby

EMERGENCY contractors have been deployed to evaluate the extensive damage to the Providence access road, commonly referred to as the ‘Red Road’, located along the East Bank of Demerara.

Described as an ‘unusual event’, the weight of a 30,000-tonne aggregate stockpile near the road on Thursday afternoon caused bulges that destroyed a considerable stretch of the main access road to several residential areas.

“It’s unusual, and an unfortunate event,” Public Works Minister Bishop Juan Edghill said while responding to reporters at the scene.
Traffic to this road will be restricted until further assessments are made.

“It is clear that with the bulge, this entire stretch of about 150 meters has been totally destroyed. It will cause some amount of inconvenience to commuters, because, as of the time of the event until the time this will be restored, we will have to restrict traffic on ‘Red Road’ from the East Bank highway all the way down to the entrance at ‘Massey’,” the Minister noted.
In the meantime, the weight of the stockpile is being redistributed.

“We have already mobilised two emergency contractors; we will have to do a full reconstruction of this section of the road,” Minister Edghill said, adding:
“We apologise to the public for the inconvenience caused…”

The ministry will meet with the Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Company (GTT), and the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) to ensure that no major cables or pipes were destroyed.
“Before we can start digging,” he said, “we have to get GTT, and GWI to make sure that we don’t have fibrotic cables; pipes that could be damaged while we are excavating, and we are trying to make those arrangements.

“Lessons will be learnt from this.”