Public Works Minister says inconvenience of roadworks temporary
THE  recent construction and rehabilitation of bridges and culverts along the East Bank Demerara has been quite frustrating for commuters, especially during the peaks hours of the morning, even though upon completion, all road users will benefit.
Of recent times there were a few complaints from vehicle operators on the lengthy period of construction on the bridges and culverts, and the build-up of traffic at most construction sites.
The building up of traffic was the main complaint from most operators, which they say occurs mostly in the morning, with long lines of vehicles waiting for sometimes more than one hour.
One minibus operator, Charles Henry, who plies the East Bank route, contended that a line of vehicles build up almost every morning at the construction site in Den Huevel because some of the construction workers only allow one side of the traffic to flow.
“This line does be long in the morning when people hurrying to go to work and the people who suppose to switch the signs not doing their jobs well. They allowing only one side of the traffic to pass and holding up the other side long, causing a long line every morning” said Henry.
Other commuters are concerned about the lengthy period of construction and the state in which some of the bridges are left after the phase is completed.
Trevor Persaud, who traverse the East Bank road every morning to work in the city, believes that the construction of the bridges and culverts are taking too long to complete.
He said one particular culvert, which was recently completed in the Sarah Johanna/Pearl area, has been left with a rough surface.
However, when contacted by the Chronicle, Public Works Minister Robeson Benn explained that the building of bridges and culverts on the main roadways takes time. He said that after a bridge or culvert is completed it takes time for settlement, and then the contractor will return to finalize the surface of the road. He noted that the roads will not be left with rough surfaces.
Benn stated that Government is improving the capacity of the highway by building and rehabilitating bridges and culverts to later facilitate four-lane highways from Providence to Timehri, East Bank Demerara, and from Better Hope to Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara. He said that the process is usually inconvenient to some, but it will facilitate the convenience of all when the project is completed.
The minister pointed out that it is required that the contractors ensure there is a fairly smooth surface when one section of the road is completed and opened to road users. But he added that some drivers take advantage of the smooth surface and speed through, although construction is in progress.
He said that, to avoid speeding and accidents, the contractors build speed humps at some of the sites.
“We all know the inconvenience there is when any construction is started on the road, but we need to put up with it for a while and after that it is improvements that will benefit us all and which will last for a long time to come. The inconvenience will only last for a while, but the convenience will last for 40 years and more” said Minister Benn.
The Works Ministry is executing an intensive construction programme, which will be fully completed early next year.
The contract was signed last year to rehabilitate and construct bridges and culverts along the East Bank and East Coast Demerara roadways and the Abary Bridge, which was recently completed at a cost of US$400,000.
Thirteen bridges and culverts along East Bank Demerara are to be constructed and rehabilitated by Courtney Benn Constructing Services at a cost of US$2.8M. To date one culvert has been completed and four are in the construction process, which is expected to be completed by September of this year. Construction of the other eight bridges and culverts will commence as soon as the others are completed.
Eleven bridges and culverts on the East Coast Demerara are to be constructed by R. Bassoo and Sons Construction at a cost of US$3.4M. To date one culvert has been completed and three are in the construction phase. Construction of the remaining seven bridges and culverts will commence when the others are completed.