Latest update May 25th, 2026 12:35 AM
East Bank road expansion works to recommence shortly
Residents of the East Bank of Demerara will soon breathe a sigh of relief with the disclosure that Lot 1 of the East Bank road expansion project, from Providence to Covent Garden, is scheduled to recommence
An unfinished section of the road in Herstelling.
this week.
This was revealed by Geoffrey Vaughn, the Coordinator of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure’s Work Services Group, when he was contacted recently.
Vaughn said that the contract was awarded to BK International Inc. and Gaico Construction. He also stated that there are still some details to be ironed out with regards to Gaico. However, BK has already been given the green light to commence works.
Vaughn continued that the construction, once unhindered, will be “wrapped up” by July or August of this year.
The contract to complete that section – Providence to Covent Garden, with a length of 2.65km – was initially awarded to Dipcon Engineering Services at a price of US$8M.
According to the Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson, recently, the cwontractor had only completed 59 percent of the contract when all works were “effectively ceased” in May 2015 – two years after the project was scheduled for a completion date of April, 30, 2013.
An incomplete bridge which links the villages of Providence and Herstelling.
Following discussions with the contractor and the ministry, an “agreeable settlement” was reached and on August 16, 2015, and the contract was terminated, Patterson was cited as saying.
In recent reports, the company allegedly stated that it was faced with a series of issues which it said, derived from the rising cost of materials and delays in the removal of utilities from the area.
Meanwhile, Lot 2 – from Vreed-en-Rust to Prospect – with a length of 1.55km, was awarded to GEM Ltd. & Gaico Construction to the amount of approximately US$5.8 M.
The contract was completed in May 2015 and is in its defects liability period which concludes in May 2017.
Meanwhile, Lot 3, Prospect to Great Diamond, with a length of 1.20km, was completed in June 2015 by BK International Inc. to the amount of US$3.5M.
All three contracts were signed on October 3, 2011 with a commencement date of November 1, 2011 and completion date of April 30, 2013.
The project still stands incomplete.
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