HEAD of the Works Services Group of the Ministry of Public Works, Mr. Jeffery Vaughn, has told this publication in an exclusive interview that the present change of weather is impeding construction of the four-lane highway on the East Coast and East Bank of Demerara.

He said feasibility studies done by the German consultant company DWI is near completion, and estimates and drawings of the four-lanetwo-lane upgrade to the East Coast Demerara should see a June 30th completion deadline. The East Coast Demerara is slated to have a four-lane upgrade from Plaisance to Annandale, and a two-lane upgrade from Buxton to Belfield.
Works on the East Bank Demerara road are being done in three lots, he explained. The contract for Lot 1, costing some US$8,003,265, has been awarded to Dipcon Engineering Services Limited. This phase commenced on November 1st 2011, and is presently about 41% completed. Delays in progression of the work were due to a number of issues regarding relocation of utilities by the three companies: Guyana Water Inc. (GWI), Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Company Ltd (GT&T), and Guyana Power & Light Inc (GPL). Approximately US$2,596,360 worth of work has so far been completed.
The second lot is contracted to General Earth Movers Ltd & GAICO Construction Inc. The sum of US$5,802.640 has been earmarked to be expended on this phase, which commenced on November 1st 2011 and was slated to last for 18 months. That time has elapsed, and the project presently stands at 45% completed, with approximately US$2,262,801 worth of work having been completed.
Delays in completion of this phase have been principally due to relocation of the GWI pipelines, presently in 55% of the estimated area. GT&T is as well due to relocate its cables in this phase and modification of designs is also expected to follow.
The third lot, awarded to BK International Inc., costs US$3,444,060 and was due to be completed within 18 months, but only about 5% of this work has been completed, and the deadline has already elapsed. The principal consideration delaying the work has been determined to be relocation of the gas mains of the Demerara Distilleries Limited, among other utilities, and the High Bridge design.
Other utilities of GWI and GPL are also to be relocated.
If all the work is executed as planned, the East Bank project would be completed approximately in March of 2014, he said.