Latest update November 5th, 2024 1:00 AM
E.B.D four-lane expansion… Contractor to construct temporary turning lane at Diamond – Public Works
Commuters traversing the East Bank Demerara Public Road could possibly breathe a sigh of relief, as the daily traffic jam at Diamond, where road-widening works are ongoing, could soon be significantly reduced. This is according to an Engineer at the Public Works Ministry.
The Ministry has requested that the contractor, BK International, construct a section of the roadway from Demerara Bank to the junction of the Diamond Housing Scheme entrance to facilitate the turning lane.
The contractor will still have to construct the two additional lanes to create the four-lane when all utilities in the stretch are cleared. In addition, the traffic signals would also have to be relocated.
Work in this section, which is part of the four-lane expansion project from Providence to Diamond, has experienced several delays, primarily because of utilities.
BK International commenced construction in January 2012 and this was expected to conclude in 18 months.
But, owing to the presence of the aforementioned utilities including pipelines and poles, works were stalled. The contractor resumed in May 2013 even though all the utilities were not removed and construction is progressing slowly.
Meanwhile, the heavy flow of traffic that traverses the corridor and that also enters Diamond Housing Scheme is forced at different periods during the day to wait for almost 30 minutes in a sometimes mile-long line. People who live in Diamond must leave their home two hours earlier to travel to Georgetown, which is a no more than 15-minute journey in normal circumstances.
According to the engineer, negotiations are currently ongoing with the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company to relocate utility poles and aerial and buried cables.
Also, not all Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) conduits and pipelines have been relocated. In October 2012, Construction Company, Macsood Ahamad, was contracted by Government to the tune of $97M to relocate conduits and pipelines from Providence to Diamond.
The company commenced works in Diamond that said month. And, according to reports, that relocation project was expected to have been of a one-month duration.
The Public Works Ministry engineer related that in Diamond the road-widening would be close to properties. As such, GWI’s relocation contractor will have to find practical places to lay the pipelines.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Jagdeo should withdraw his comments
…Peeping Tom Kaieteur News- Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo found himself at the center of a controversy regarding... more
Rising Gun Crimes in the Caribbean: Urgent Action required by all
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News – There is an alarming surge in gun-related violence, particularly among younger... more
Weekend Cartoon
