Partial road closure blamed for traffic, road chaos

Dec 02, 2018 News

Vehicular traffic along East Coast Demerara is now a headache. Expansion works have wreaked havoc on the day-to-day traffic in the area.

Congested traffic at the East Coast Demerara road

The project, which is being spearheaded by the China Railway First Group Company Limited commenced on August 29, 2017 and is slated to conclude in December, at a cost of US $50.19 million.
The scope of the works for the project includes the widening of the existing roadway between Better Hope to Annandale into four lanes and thereafter an upgrade to the existing two-lane road. However, as of now the efficacy of the expansion’s alternative vehicular route is lacking, with Saturday being the most recent of the project’s traffic congestions.
According to the Ministry, the expansion currently has specialized professionals observing and monitoring the works.
Nonetheless, the issue of congested traffic due to the project is a recurring one. When asked for a comment on the issue, the manager of the contracting company in charge of the works said that he was not the person to speak on it. Instead the Ministry of Public Infrastructure should be contacted, he said.
That Ministry disclosed in recent months that it was working with the contractor to ensure that the Traffic Management and Environmental Plan are adhered to.
Kaieteur News understands that Saturday’s congestion lasted for many hours, leaving vehicles stationary along the roadway.

Works being done in the expansion of the East Coast Road

Most recently, the Ministry stated that as a solution to the issue more flagmen were being trained to regulate the flow of traffic while materials were being offloaded on site. They further went on to implement time sensitive periods of offloading of materials to not affect traffic.
Seven bridges and 12 culverts will be widened in the four-lane section and two bridges will be reconstructed.
The project will also involve the installation of sidewalks, streetlights, traffic signals, road safety signs and markings. The finished surface of the roadway will comprise four inches of asphaltic concrete.

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