$580M road project to finish by year-end

Jun 28, 2010 News

NEW AMSTERDAM, BERBICE – Residents of East Berbice/Corentyne are to derive benefits from a special multi-million road programme funded by the Ministries of Public Works and Finance.

Chairman of Region Six, Zulfikar Mustapha said the venture commenced in 2009 and is expected to wrap up by year-end. According to him, the total package is worth $580 M and has several components.

Region Six Chairman Zulfikar Mustapha

Some 80 community roads are to be rehabilitated before the end of this year to the tune of some $400M. Among them are the Main Access Road Smythfield $9M, Forty-six Stanleytown (west) $3M, Forty-three Stanleytown (east) $3M, Overwinning Primary School Access Road $1.2 M, first cross street Fyrish $4M, first cross street Number Forty-eight Village $8.5 M, first cross street Number One Gibraltar $6 M, main access street Dukestown $2.9 M, Side Line Dam Number Fifty-two-Fifty-three $1.5 M and First Cross Street Ulverston $9.2 M.

The contracts were awarded two Tuesdays ago and work already commenced on some. According to the Chairman, three Clerks of Work were employed to monitor the job. Bills of Quantity were distributed to residents in some areas to allow for better management of the projects.

The Chairman said that the Minister of Public Works visited the Republic Road in New Amsterdam recently and work is to commence shortly. He acknowledged that it is in bad shape especially to the northern end of the thoroughfare and as such the necessary representation was made.

The Republic Road would be done in a similar manner to the East Bank of Berbice Public Road using a hot mix to resurface the entire stretch. He dubbed the East Bank of Berbice roadway a contentious issue and as such, the Ministry of Public Works is directly responsible for that road as well as the Republic Road.

Central Government has awarded contracts for the rehabilitation of the East and West Canje Public Roads at a cost of US$8.6 M. Work is to commence shortly.

The Chairman said over the years residents made several complaints about the state of some roads across the Region and even the quality of work done by contracts.

He said only recently a person was dissatisfied about the job done in Manchester.

To prevent this situation he is calling on residents to ensure that they receive a copy of the bill of quantity and to assist in keeping an eye on the job to make sure it is done according to specification.

Under the Region Six Road Rehabilitation Budget for 2010, $51 M was allocated for the construction of new roads in East Berbice. Eleven such were identified and the contracts were signed on spot in the various communities.

These locations include Bloomfield/Johns Side Line Dam, Number Naught Middle Walk, Manchester/Liverpool Health Centre Road, Number Seventy-three Access Dam, Number Sixty-four Health Centre Road and Fyrish/Gibraltar Access Road.

In December last year, the $183 M contracts for 39 community roads were signed in the Region Six Boardroom.

The Chairman explained that these roads were in addition to those done under the 2009 Capital Work Programme, which was completed late November 2009.

In November the Administration opened bids for the construction of these thoroughfares in areas such as Angoy’s Avenue, Canefield, Number Nineteen, Fort Ordnance, Fyrish/Gibraltar, Hampshire/Kilcoy, Rose Hall Town, John’s Port Mourant, Whim/Bloomfield, Lancaster/Hogstye, Bush Lot/Number Twenty-eight, Black Bush Polder, Number Fifty-one/Good Hope, Number Fifty-two/Seventy-four, Corriverton and Crabwood Creek. Consultation sessions were held across East Berbice/Corentyne before these communities were identified.