THE Ministry of Public Works recently completed a series of site visits to assess and address the infrastructural concerns in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).
The Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, led the inspections, focusing primarily on bridges and areas showing signs of erosion.

According to a release by the Ministry of Public Works, during the visits, three bridges that were identified had significant erosion issues, and contractors were immediately instructed to address the problems to prevent further degradation and ensure safety. The release also stated that the inspection covered all the bridges from Annai, including bridge number 19, Washout Bridge, and bridge number three.

In addition to the erosion repairs, some bridges require widening of the channels to facilitate better water discharge. This measure, according to the release, is crucial to enhancing the resilience of the infrastructure against potential flooding.

“All relevant contractors have been informed of the necessary work to be undertaken. Notably, the washout bridge repair is underway, with MMC beginning the stockpiling of materials required for the fix. To effectively manage the significant water flow, MMC needs to accumulate 80 percent of the materials before commencing the blockage of the washout,” the report said.

Furthermore, the release stated that Minister Indar also visited the Washout area and spoke with stranded passengers, indicating that vehicles should be able to traverse the area by tomorrow at noon.
This assurance, the report noted, comes as part of the ministry’s commitment to promptly restore connectivity and minimise inconvenience to the public.

“The Ministry of Public Works remains committed to maintaining and improving the infrastructure in Region Nine, [thereby] ensuring the safety and connectivity of the community,” it stated.