Lethem/GT road: Traffic could flow by noon tomorrow as contractors work to fix washed out area

Traffic to and from the hinterland and Georgetown could begin flowing by noon on Friday as contractors work to fix the collapsed section of the road near Kurupukari, a vital link in the transportation network.

The approach at the third concrete bridge from Kurupukari crossing, located between Kurupukari and Corkwood, was washed away on Wednesday. The gap is about 20 feet wide and six feet deep, which explains why a truck was submerged.

The Ministry of Public Works Thursday carried out a site visit to the collapsed section and other areas.

Minister within the Ministry of Public Works Deodat Indar led the inspections.

In a statement, the Ministry said the washout bridge repair is underway, with MMC beginning the stockpiling of materials required for the fix.

To effectively manage the significant water flow, MMC needs to accumulate 80% of the materials before commencing the blockage of the washout, the Ministry stated.

Minister Indar visited the washed out area and spoke with stranded passengers, indicating that vehicles should be able to traverse the area by tomorrow noon, the Ministry stated.

“This assurance comes as part of the Ministry’s commitment to promptly restore connectivity and minimize inconvenience to the public,” the Ministry of Public Works stated.

During the visits led by Indar, three bridges were identified with significant erosion issues.

According to the Ministry, contractors have been instructed to address these problems immediately to prevent further degradation and ensure safety.

The inspection covered all bridges from Annai, beginning with bridge number 19, to the washout bridge, number 3.

In addition to erosion repairs, some bridges require the widening of their channels to facilitate better water discharge. This measure is crucial to enhancing the resilience of the infrastructure against potential flooding.