Feasibility study, design this year for Grove to Timehri road

Jan 13, 2013 News

– material shortages caused delays to roads, bridges construction in 2012

Government has announced major plans this year for its long term programme to deal with the country’s traffic situation.
Speaking during a recent press conference held by the Ministry of Public Works to review its 2012 work programme and plans for this year, engineer Ron Rahaman disclosed that preparations are on stream for a feasibility study for the public road between Grove and Timehri, East Bank Demerara.

The Grove public road, East Bank Demerara, that government is hoping to possibly extend into a four-lane to Timehri.

Timehri is where the country’s main airport, Cheddi Jagan International Airport, is located. Grove is one of the most populated villages along East Bank Demerara which has one of the busiest public roads in the country.
Not only does the East Bank road lead to the airport and to the West Demerara area, but it has arteries to Linden, the gateway to the interior. From Linden, there are roads to Kwakwani, Upper Berbice, and to Lethem, Region Nine.
Despite the construction of a four-lane highway which started at Ruimveldt and ends at Providence, the traffic situation has become almost intolerable for the thousands that commute daily.
There are currently several contracts in progress to extend the highway from Providence to Diamond. Initially, this four-lane US$20M extension was to have continued to the neighbouring village of Grove. However, a decision was taken to stop at Diamond because of the enormous work it would have taken and possible costs.
Grove has seen an explosion of growth on the main road for a number of years now, including Bounty Farm Supermarket and several hardware stores and taxi services.
According to Rahaman, the feasibility study and design will be embarked on this year.
Whether Government continues the four-lane project through Grove or seeks an alternative route behind Diamond as is one of the suggestions, that will come out in the feasibility study.
Already, a section of the Timehri roadway from the airport to the junction is under construction.
Meanwhile, in addition to invitations for proposals for a new Demerara River crossing to help ease the traffic on the aging Harbour Bridge, Government is also looking to complete a feasibility study and designs for Sheriff Street and Mandela Avenue. Both roads link East Coast of Demerara, which leads to Berbice, and to the East Bank Demerara road. However, it has been rapidly deteriorating for some time now.
Similar works are also being done this year on the East Bank Berbice Road, the state of which has sparked protests from drivers and residents.
Constructions are also expected to start this year on the West Coast Demerara Public Road which runs from Vreed-en-Hoop to Parika.
Meanwhile, Public Works officials said that of the $6.38B provided last year in the budget for the construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of roads and bridges in the country, only $4.61B or 72 per cent was disbursed. This was as a result of problems with contractors, shortages in construction materials, relocation of utilities as in the case of the East Bank Demerara four-lane highway, and encroachments including vendors and structures.
The delays and shortages were clearly highlighted in projects funded by Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Caribbean Development Bank. Some $3.47B was approved for roads and bridges but only $2.3B or 68 per cent was disbursed last year.