Works on Schoonord to Crane Highway behind schedule

Contractors for the four-lane highway from Schoonord, West Bank Demerara to Crane, West Coast Demerara, are currently operating behind schedule.

As such, they have been warned of being penalised if they fail to deliver the project on time.

“If you all don’t finish this thing (highway), liquidated damages [are] going to be applied. There is absolutely no excuse,” President Dr Irfaan Ali told the contractors during a meeting with them on-site on Thursday afternoon.

The project is being executed by eight contractors. Currently, with the exception of two contractors, works are between 30 and 45 percent completed.

Among the issues contributing to the delayed works are the arrival of materials to the site, weather, and access to sand.

And to ensure that they get back on schedule to achieve the October 26, 2023, deadline, President Ali told the contractors that they will have to implement a shift system, which will see work being done on a 24-hour basis.

“Productivity is what measures how you get back on track…Performance is important because this project has to be extended. This road will be extended all the way to Parika,” President Ali said.

He also urged them to take advantage of the excellent weather conditions. Ali promised to return to the site at the end of September upon which he expects “substantial” progress.

“I need this project completed long before the end of the year,” he said

The contract for the $11.8 billion highway, which is expected to ease the traffic woes on the West Bank, was signed in September 2022.

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.