Cabinet has granted its no objection to a number of contracts at its most recent meeting on Tuesday (March 14, 2017), which will see the commencement of a number of road projects promised in the Government’s 2017 National Budget.
Minister of State, Joseph Harmon disclosed that a contract valuing US$1,034,326 was awarded to B & J Civil Works for the construction of overhead crossings at Houston, Eccles and Peters Hall on the East Bank of Demerara.
During his 2017 National Budget speech, Finance Minister, Winston Jordan said the government will construct the first ever pedestrian overpasses in the country at Liliendaal, Houston, Eccles, and Peter’s Hall, as well as the first ever vehicle overpass at the Diamond main access road. This he noted will be done to decrease the number of fatal road accidents in the country.
Additionally, also under the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Cabinet has granted its no objection to two contracts for the removal of utility poles along the Sheriff Street/Mandela Avenue roadways.
A total of $27, 841,000 was awarded to the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company for the relocation of telephone utility poles and lines along the Sheriff Street/Mandela Avenue road.
The Guyana Power and Light Company (GPL) was awarded $22, 254, 649 also for the relocation of its utility poles along this avenue.
The relocation of the utility poles are preliminary works for the extension and expansion of the roadway.
Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson during the 2017 budget debate had announced that the Ministry was awaiting evaluation from independent evaluators recommended by the Guyana Association of Professional Engineers before the commencement of the works.
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) funded Sheriff Street/Mandela Avenue project which was signed on March 15, 2013, “has finally had its project re-scoped and completed following protracted delays, and after completion of the procurement process civil works are expected to commence in 2017,” Minister Patterson explained. The 2017 budget has provided $1.240B for these two projects.
These works will be guided under the Ministry of Public Infrastructure’s, Works Services Group. This group is charged with the responsibility for the execution of all foreign and nationally funded infrastructural projects.
