Public Works on top-speed as schools reopen, amidst roadworks
With the reopening of schools on Monday, September 02, 2024, the Ministry of Public Works has ramped up several road works especially along the East Coast Demerara, to mitigate the traffic congestion associated with the mixture of the student and workforce population commuting to and fro.
Public Works Minister Edghill and engineers inspect a bridge in Victoria Village on Saturday
Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill on Saturday while on the east coast said major projects are taking place on the main east coast roadway and railway embankment. He, said systems are in place to reduce the heavy traffic buildup ahead of schools reopening.
“We have several bridges that have been damaged and if we don’t have them fixed, traffic congestion on Monday could be massive. Last week Saturday, we took the time to deal with the congestion that could have been developed due to the closing of Ogle Road” Edghill told BIG Smith News Watch.
Ogle Road between the highway and the railway embankment is closed to facilitate its reconstruction and widening. Consequently, several streets linking the railway embankment to the East Coast highway got immediate remedial interventions.
“On Sunday (last week) we did Ogle Old Road, Sugrim Singh Road, and Victoria Road Plaisance in one day. Then the bridge at the airport bar, we ensured that we put in a proper bypass and that should they are casting today (yesterday Saturday)” Edghill said while visiting roadworks in Victoria Village.
Works are also being done in Georgetown to complement and assist the free flow of traffic from the East Coast and other areas into Georgetown.
“In Georgetown, you know we had to get moving with Cemetery Road because once school opens you know Cemetery Road becomes a main artery. We are working with the contractor for the Conversation Tree Road to take some of the East Coast Traffic off, a part of that road was finished. They are looking to get the traffic moving smoothly offloading from the east coast to get into the various parts of the city” The Public Works explained.
On Saturday, Minister Edghill also visited Mahaica where road upgrade works are ongoing. He said he received complaints of persons taking one hour to move from one part of the road to another.
He said roads across the country continue to be damaged by heavy-duty trucks and those too are being looked at to address the free flow of traffic.
“The contractor was given instructions that they should start paving that section and open it back so I am going to see that it is already done, Lusignan, Coldigen and Enterprise main roads have been significantly damaged as a result of trucks. We had to execute emergency work at Lusignan, and we have emergency work ongoing at Coldigen. We also have to look at what needs to be done at Enterprise” Edghill stressed.
Persons have criticized the ministry for waiting so close to the reopening of school to conduct work in some areas known to have a high volume of traffic when children are heading to school.
With the tremendous public infrastructure work taking place countrywide, materials shortage or timely delivery continue to be a challenge and play a key factor in some project delays and completion.
