THE TRAFFIC ACROSS THE BRIDGE

Sep 24, 2008 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

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The four-lane highway was built to try to ease the traffic woes on the East Bank Demerara Public Road, particularly between the Demerara Harbour Bridge and Ruimveldt.

The road took some time to build and during the construction phase did exacerbate the problem. When it was finished, however, it did make a significant impact in reducing traffic congestion.

Before that, there used to be a two-lane road, and during peak hours this led to traffic backing up for miles. Most of the traffic came from West Demerara using the Harbour Bridge. Each day thousands of vehicles traverse the bridge.

It was not always like that. During the early life of the bridge, there were not that many vehicles crossing the bridge.

However, as more and more persons began to travel to the city, and as this travel increased with the introduction of minibuses, as more and more persons began to own their own vehicles, the trickle of traffic increased to a steady flow.

Today that flow is incessant. Even the four lane- highway during peak hours is unable to deal with large volume.

Returning from the Essequibo recently I got caught up in this early morning traffic on the bridge. I was shocked at how slow the traffic was moving, a sure sign that more and more vehicles are using the bridge each day.

On one hand this is a sign of increased prosperity since many ordinary citizens are now investing in their own vehicles, despite the astronomical price of fuel.

On the other hand, the increase in persons having to come to the city to work and to shop presents a challenge because it suggests that there are inadequate employment opportunities and services being offered in West Demerara.

The problem is compounded because the government has a number of large housing schemes in the region. This means that thousands of Guyanese not belonging to the part of the country have moved into the West Demerara area.

However, there has not been a corresponding increase in job opportunities in the region. As such, most persons have to travel to the city and further afield in search of jobs.

With each day, the situation is not improving and more and more persons are likely to be making the journey across the bridge because the main economic activity in West Demerara is agriculture and this is not sufficient enough to create jobs for the great demand created in the region.

What we may very well find therefore within the next couple of years is a situation whereby the bridge, already feeling the stress of heavy traffic, will be unable by itself to deal with the large numbers using it.

It is also likely that as the housing schemes develop further, that more and more persons will reside in the region thus placing greater demands on public infrastructure.

The ultimate solution cannot be to build another bridge or another road even though those with interests in the construction sector may be so inclined to suggest to the government.

The ultimate solution has to be new industrial centres in West Demerara by creating special processing zones which would see the existing raw materials within the region being utilised.
I see great potential for a new commercial district being opened which would create hundreds of jobs.

However, the prevalent practice of persons opening businesses wherever they please would have to cease and illegal vending and squatting would have to be outlawed. You cannot develop a region without imposing severe sanctions on such unlawful activities.

A third solution is the creation of new towns in the region. This is already being mooted but is being frustrated by squatting and illegal vending.

Parika is already a bustling centre but it is unordered and unregulated, and therefore what is needed is for certain standards to be imposed.

In addition, I believe an entertainment zone should be created near to one of the main housing areas. This should have cinemas and night clubs and fast food services to high standards. This too can create jobs and ensure that persons from within the area find employment within the community.

I know a great deal of produce is trucked from Essequibo to the city. I believe that the authorities should try to ensure that these are sold within the region so as to improve revenue and create more opportunities for the legions of young people whose only chance of getting a job is to come to the city.

Georgetown is a dying city. I am convinced that it cannot be redeemed unless a non-political council is established within the municipality. This is not likely to happen and therefore the government must look elsewhere in creating new townships.

West Demerara is perhaps the place to begin since there is a need for jobs and investment there.
Judging by the flow of traffic at peak hours across the Harbour Bridge, that need is likely to be there for some time.

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