East Bank Demerara four-lane expansion cost keeps soaring

Apr 01, 2013 News

– due to design modifications

Government’s decision to modify the design of the proposed East Bank Demerara four-lane roadway has resulted in an increase in the cost of the project, says a senior engineer from the Public Works Ministry.

Construction works ongoing in Diamond

According to the engineer, the original design provided that the Providence to Diamond road be constructed with earthen drains. But the engineers then decided that concrete drains would be a better option, though there will still be earthen drains in certain sections.
The engineer related that other modifications were also included in the contracts. And, these have been finalized in Lots Two and Three- (from Prospect to Diamond ‘high bridge’, and from Diamond ‘high bridge’ to Diamond Housing Scheme entrance respectively). However, the modifications for Lot One from Providence to Prospect are yet to be concluded.
Lot Two was awarded to Gaico Construction to the tune of US$5,802,640. However, with the adjustments to the design, the contract may cost an additional US$800,000. In this section the contractor had to transform canefields into roadway. The layout for the roadway has been completed. And, the contractor has begun works to the existing East Bank Demerara Public Road.
Meanwhile, BK International is executing works in Lot Three of the road project. This aspect of the road widening project was delayed for several months because of the presence of utilities. Guyana Water Inc. pipelines and conduits and Guyana Power and Light poles in all the sections have been relocated. The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company have to relocate their poles.
The original contract sum for this section is US$3,444,060. The modifications in this section are costing Government approximately US$800,000. However, the cost for the modifications in Lot One is currently unknown.