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Linden to Lethem Road…Upgrade only feasible from Linden to Mabura
The feasibility study recently undertaken for the upgrade of the Linden to Lethem Road indicates that it makes economical sense to improve only the Linden to Mabura carriageway to an asphalted concrete surface.
This is according to Transport Minister, Robeson Benn during a press conference on Friday at his Wight’s Lane, Kingston office. He related that the feasibility study was done through the Inter-American Development
Flashback: Deplorable sections of the Linden to Lethem Road.
Bank by the SNC Lavalin Company.
Benn disclosed that the Government of Guyana and the Brazilian National Development Bank are currently looking at this investment.
Meanwhile, he stated that to upgrade the stretch of road from Linden to Lethem would cost about US$280M.
As such, Government will continue to maintain the structure. Normally, during the rainy season the road experiences difficulties. And, from time-to-time timber bridges buckle from the pressure of heavy trucks.
This results in disruption to the movement of people and goods to communities and mining areas along the Linden to Lethem Road. In addition, for years Government has touted Lethem as an emerging economic hub and tourists also use the road to access interior locations.
According to the Minister, the Ministry had maintained the road prior to the rainy season and would be carrying out remedial works, since large craters have developed.
“We have trucks with heavy weights coming and going and impacting on the bridges, driving off the sides of the bridges. It is an enormous cost but we have to keep it going. And we are committed to that,” Benn noted.
Even as commuters are awaiting the upgrade of the road, travel time has increased, but Benn maintains that overall, travel time has reduced by half along the Kwakwani to Linden Road.
“There was a time when you could have driven for 1hour and 40 minutes from Ituni to Linden. In the rainy season it may take two hours particularly if it is raining at the time and if the logging trucks are coming out and craters develops. It largely has to do with the types of materials available as well as the money available to do that one road,” he added.
Generally speaking, difficulties in regular maintenance of interior roads are common because of the absence of good building materials.
Moves to enhance the Linden to Lethem Road is normal would be done when large sums of money are available.
“I could talk about it because when I first went into the bush to the Rupununi when there was no road it took us about two weeks to travel from Parika to Kurupukari on the river to do geological expeditions. There was no road then the road came and it was upgraded sequentially,” he added.
Benn emphasized, “Guyana is a large country with a limited population and a wide geographic spread of activities and you cannot have all the things at all the same levels across the country at the same time unless you have a big set of money coming in to do these things. So it is not realistic to expect unless there is a particular growth point as we expect now with the Linden to Lethem Road.”
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