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East Bank four-lane stalled again
– contractor faces difficulty with materials
The East Bank Demerara four-lane expansion project has experienced more delays with one contractor experiencing difficulties in sourcing materials.
The Diamond bridge section of the four-lane extension.
With General Elections last week, there was almost no activity on the sites.
The US$20M ($4B) project which started back in 2012 and included the extension of the four-lane roadway from Providence to Diamond has been pushed back time and again.
The contracts, which had included the construction of two more lanes, sidewalks and concrete drains, had been divided into three sections.
Section One- Providence to Covent Garden has been contracted to Dipcon, and Section Two to GAICO Construction. The last section has been awarded to BK International.
Last week, former Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn, said that Section Two, which stretches from Covent Garden to the Diamond (DSL compound), was virtually completed.
“The Dipcon section is delayed because the contractor has difficulties procuring materials,”
There were no activities over the last week at the Herstelling/Providence Bridge by Dipcon.
Benn said. Dipcon is concentrating on a new bridge linking Providence to Herstelling. Several heavy pieces of equipment lay idle over the weekend.
“With regard to Section Three, the contractor is working on Diamond Bridge with pieces of slabs being laid. Some parts have already been asphalted.”
It is likely that the Diamond section will take another month. It is unclear when the entire project will be completed as the former administration, under Donald Ramotar, had tagged a mid-year deadline.
According to GAICO’s boss, Komal Singh, a few guard rails have to be erected in his section.
His company has erected signs and working to procure traffic lights for a number of areas.
The project has been delayed time and again not only because of materials shortage but because of the removal of utilities, including underground telephone cables, power lines and water mains.
Piles of sand at the corner of the stalled road at Providence, EBD.
BK had clashed with the Ministry and the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company over the telephone lines.
BK had even accused the Ministry of mismanaging the project, an accusation that the officials refuted.
Back in March, questioned about the seeming lax attitude that Government has in not penalizing contractors for delays, Benn said that it is a fact that contracts specify what conditions and delinquencies that a company can be penalized for.
“We are concerned that perhaps some of the contractors have too much to do. We have been talking about overall project management and oversight and diligence with respect to projects. We are working with consultants and remain concerned.”
The official had said that his Ministry had attempted to get contractors to even work in the night, but concerns over workers’ safety and willingness have stymied progress in this area.
Contractors have also complained about the increasing costs of material.
Commuters are daily facing congestion on the busiest roadway in the country. The roads, because of the construction, are also in bad shape, leading to more frustration from the public.
The project kicked off in early 2012 and was expected to end late 2013.
The roadway itself not only links West Demerara via the Demerara Harbour Bridge, but leads to the main international airport at Timehri, and Linden, a main gateway to the hinterland.
The project is being funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
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