CONTRACTORS conducting works on the US$106.4 Million East Coast to East Bank Demerara road link project have ramped up works to ensure that it is finished within the stipulated time frame.

This was according to President, Dr Irfaan Ali, during a visit to the site where the construction works are underway.

President Ali said that it is important for citizens to be able to see what the area that is being cleared for the bypass road looks like before it is transformed into a four-lane highway.
He said: “This is why we have to work 24 hours, we have a number of difficulties with [the] construction of these roads, not only are we below sea level…in some areas, our drainage system in the backlands; and most of the development is coming in the backlands, is far different, so all of that has to be taken into consideration.”

While there, one of the engineers on site related that the land-clearing exercise commenced last year and thus far they have completed about 6.5 kilometres of the intended 7.8 kilometres long alignment.

The landscape, the engineer said, in the space of two years, is going to be transformed into asphaltic concrete finished road.

“So, it’s a significant development and we are going to be pushing the contractor to have this project delivered on time and of course within the budget,” the engineer added.
He told the Head of State that as land-clearing continues, teams are working at both ends of the road link to have this done.

Along the alignment, it was noted that there will be just around 48 small structures or bridges with one major structure.

The engineer mentioned that contractors are a little behind schedule, but they have ramped up work slightly to have the project completed on time. Essentially, work will be ongoing even into the nights.

Additionally, it was stated that by the end of this month, the entire embankment should be cleared and sand-filled.

The contract for the first phase of the construction of the East Coast to East Bank Demerara road linkage was signed in June 2022 with India-based company, Ashoka Buildcon.
This phase is expected to be a four-lane highway that stretches some 7.8km from Ogle to Eccles (Haags Bosch).

This new thoroughfare will develop the country’s infrastructure, as well as open up land to meet the needs of the agricultural, housing and oil and gas sectors, significantly complementing the government’s masterplan for the country.

The project was first conceptualised in 2014 by a previous People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration and was one of the first projects discussed after the party returned to office in 2020.