-improves access to surrounding communities
GUYANA’S Ministry of Public Works, through its Special Projects Unit (SPU), has completed a major road network around the South Dakota Circuit, creating a direct link between the Soesdyke-Linden Highway and the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), while simultaneously rehabilitating the racing facility to international standards ahead of the GT Challenge de las Américas.
Providing a public update on the project, Head of the SPU, Colin Gittens, said the initiative, a brainchild of President Dr Irfaan Ali, was designed to improve connectivity and community access rather than simply providing access to the racing circuit.
Speaking on the project’s development, Gittens said the first phase, launched in 2024, involved upgrading approximately six kilometres of road from the South Dakota Circuit to the Timehri junction.
“This road project is not merely about having access to the racing track. This project is the brainchild of His Excellency Dr Irfaan Ali, and it started in 2024, where the SPU had upgraded a section of this road from the racing circuit heading to the Timehri prisons,” he said.
Since then, the SPU has significantly expanded the network, completing approximately 10 kilometres of road linking the circuit to the Glass Factory and the Soesdyke-Linden Highway. The works included about 1.6 kilometres of rehabilitation on the Glass Factory Road and roughly seven kilometres of new construction on the connector road behind the circuit. Work has also progressed on the section leading to the Timehri Roundabout.
Gittens added that a contractor is completing a further 1.3-kilometre stretch from the highway junction to the completed section of Glass Factory Road, which will complete the final link in the network.
Taken together, he said, the works create a continuous road connection between the Soesdyke-Linden Highway and CJIA.
“In all, this road connects, or forms a connection, from the Soesdyke-Linden Highway to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport,” Gittens said.
He explained that the new route provides a significant shortcut for motorists travelling from Region Ten and Guyana’s hinterland, adding, “If someone is coming from Region 10, from Lethem, or Kwakwani, or even Linden itself, and they are going to the Timehri Airport, they don’t have to drive all the way around. They can use this as an access to the airport.”
Beyond reducing travel time, Gittens said the project has transformed access for residents living along the corridor, many of whom previously had to contend with roads that were virtually impassable. He noted, “About six months ago, a lot of sections of this road was impossible, because even trucks could not pass in. The decision was to come in and upgrade the entire stretch, so the people in the community can be able to benefit from a proper structure and have accessibility.” He added that the upgraded network now enables surrounding communities to more easily access the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, CJIA and destinations beyond. “The road is not about just the track; it is about connectivity and community access.”
REHABILITATED CIRCUIT
The road network forms part of a broader transformation of the South Dakota Circuit, where the Ministry of Public Works has completed extensive rehabilitation works to prepare the venue for international competition.
Executed over an intensive two-month period, the restoration required round-the-clock operations to meet strict international deadlines ahead of Guyana hosting the third leg of the GT Challenge de las Américas, the first time an English-speaking country stage that round of the prestigious championship.
According to the ministry, the intervention became necessary after years of deterioration caused by heavily laden trucks using the circuit because there was no designated bypass road. With the new road network now in place, heavy vehicles will be able to bypass the racing facility, helping to preserve the newly rehabilitated track.
More than 6,000 tonnes of high-grade asphalt were used to completely resurface the circuit, creating the smooth, level finish required for high-performance racing for vehicles with low ground clearance. The project also included the application of professional track and grid markings and the installation of advanced safety barriers to meet international standards for both competitors and spectators.
Moreover, the ministry said the rehabilitation fulfils President Ali’s vision of positioning Guyana as a regional hub for sports tourism and entertainment while supporting the development of the country’s growing orange economy.
While the final 1.3-kilometre section of road remains under construction, the ministry said the completed works have already established a more efficient transport corridor between the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, the South Dakota Circuit and CJIA, reducing travel time for airport-bound motorists while improving access for nearby communities and supporting the long-term preservation of Guyana’s newest premier motorsport facility.
