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East Bank four-lane highway to extend to Diamond
by Leonard Gildarie
As the traffic situation on the East Bank Demerara worsens, Government has announced that it is looking at plans to extend the four-lane highway from Providence to Diamond.
In the meantime, however, another access road into the New Diamond Housing Scheme is being looked at.
According to Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn, a decision has already been taken to place traffic light systems at the junction of the new scheme and this will happen shortly.
On Thursday, Benn and several officials of his Ministry were in the area to work out the details.
Speaking with Kaieteur News on Friday on the congestion, the Minister noted that two approaches were being considered for the Diamond area.
Long traffic lines on the main public road in New Diamond Housing Scheme, like this is a norm every day.
“We had said that since last year were going to install traffic lights at the Diamond intersection. This plan has in fact been budgeted for and funded and the designs are completed.
What has happened that delayed the traffic lights is that there is a decision to widen the four-lane roadway from the stadium (Guyana National Stadium, Providence) to Diamond so we have had to fit in the two design elements… the two design configurations.”
According to Benn, an approval has been given to immediately place the traffic lights at the intersection with pedestrian bridges and walkways. Work will also be done to widen the road around the junction until the four-lane comes.
Currently, the Ministry is attempting to acquire land east of the Demerara Distillers Limited to build an access road that will allow southbound vehicles to enter Diamond, effectively creating two access roads to the new scheme. However, the acquisition of the land is being worked on at the moment.
Benn admitted that when the scheme was opened up, there were plans to erect a market place, complete with car and bus parks.
However, the land that was earmarked for that purpose had already been sold to M&M Snackette and talks are ongoing with that business to arrive at some accommodations. This piece of land is located almost to the junction and is north of the canal separating Grove and Diamond.
The Ministry is currently engaging the Ministry of Local Government and Ministry of Housing and Water to find solutions.
Currently, the traffic situation at the Diamond intersection at the entrance to new scheme has become a daily nightmare to commuters.
At the head, there are stalls and taxis all contributing to a state of confusion every morning and afternoon around peak times. Traffic police are forced to direct traffic which at times stretch as far as the eye can see.
To compound the situation, at least two banks, a gas station and a mall are being constructed in the area.
Government has been planning to name Grove as a town.
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