With the major infrastructure works completed on the $2.3 billion Eccles to Mandela four-lane highway, the alternative road link will be commissioned soon, Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal told the News Room.
The project took about one year to be completed and will greatly relieve traffic woes on the East Bank of Demerara.
“The Mandela to Eccles four-lane is practically complete, we are just putting on the final pavement blocks, tidying in terms of the road networking so very soon that will be opened,” Croal revealed on Friday.
The project commenced in April 2021 and was initially slated to be completed by November 2021. Minister Croal said the contractors were faced with many challenges which led to the delay.
“Of course, there were some initial hiccups in terms of when we were constructing. Last year had its challenges but nevertheless the contractors pushed in, they doubled up in terms of working day and night,” Croal revealed.
The fully concrete four-lane highway was undertaken by six contractors.
The project includes a four-lane highway featuring a dual carriageway of two lanes each, construction of drains and culverts, paving, and the installation of solar street lights and bridges.
The project is seen as a direct intervention by the government to ease the daily traffic congestion along the East Bank corridor.
President Dr Irfaan Ali had said that the road would not just link the communities and ease congestion, but enhance the quality of life for residents.
A government hub with police, army and fire service ranks along with emergency responders was also part of plans for the new road.
A proposed modernise system to police the road which includes the building of police towers and a Wi-Fi system connected to cameras that would automatically ticket drivers is also on the cards.
The contracting firms are from Guyana, Trinidad, and Brazil and include: Guyamerica Construction Inc., (joint venture) MTSUL Contrucoes Ltda., M&P Investments Inc., Constuora Cobra Eireli, Purans Bros. Disposal Inc., (joint venture) Collin Talbot Contracting Services, Eron Lall Civil Engineering Works, Aronco Services Inc. and JS Guyana Inc.
