Contracts for new $11.8 billion Schoonord to Crane four-lane highway signed

The contracts for the construction of the $11.8 billion four-lane highway from Schoonord, West Bank Demerara to Crane, West Coast Demerara were awarded on Wednesday by the Ministry of Housing and Water.

The project will see the construction of 4.1 kilometres of a dual carriageway reinforced concrete road with an emergency lane as well as 2.4 kilometres of road rehabilitation, and upgrade.

It will also feature two roundabouts, 11 reinforced concrete box culverts, 36 pre-stressed bridges, and road signage and markings.

Eight contractors from a total of 30 who submitted bids for the project signed their respective contracts at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown during a simple signing ceremony.

The contractors are VR Construction Inc, Avinash Contracting & Scrap Metal Inc, L-Heureuse Construction and Services Inc, Guyamerica Construction Inc, AJM Enterprise, Vals Construction, Puran Bros Disposal Inc, and JS Guyana Inc.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal highlighted that the new four-lane highway will energise economic activity within Region Three (Essequibo Islands – West Demerara).

Job creation is imminent as the the road will pave the way for the expansion of the agricultural sector, will allow for processing facilities, manufacturing and the construction of industrial complexes such as the Port of Vreed-en-Hoop and the Wales Development Plan, Croal said.

The new four-lane highway complements ongoing infrastructural works within the region especially development of new housing areas.

Within the last two years over 3,200 house lots were allocated within Region Three with 50 core homes valued at $4 million each being completed in La Parfaite Harmony and another 125 flat houses on stream to begin within the next week weeks.

“The highway is critical to the development of people and communities therefore it is extremely important that as contractors you commit fully to the task that is before you,” Croal charged the contractors.

Croal said that monitoring mechanisms are in place to ensure that the contractors deliver as required and urged the contractors to “be transparent and do not use shortcuts” as they put their best foot forward to complete the project.

Sharing brief remarks, Chief Executive Officer of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), Sherwyn Greaves assured that a team from the CHPA Projects Department will be monitoring the works closely.

“It is no incident or accident that you would have been awarded these contracts because you have a track record of performance and we want you to continue along the same line,” he said.