KINGSTON - The temporary bypasses to facilitate traffic flow at Miles 1 and 12 on the Lethem road- which is eroded- are completed.
Engineers from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and V. Dalip Enterprise were able to complete the short-term structure yesterday afternoon. Heavy duty vehicles can now ply the route.
Meanwhile, plans are afoot to build two bridges instead of culverts as part of the Ministry’s long term solution.
KINGSTON - Managers/Directors of the newly renamed Ministry of Public Infrastructure were challenged by the incumbent Minister, Hon. David Patterson, during an interactive meeting at the Ministry’s Boardroom on May 22, 2015, to be proactive in how they manage their respective agencies/departments.
“This Ministry has a lot on its hands. Therefore, it is imperative that Managers continuously engage and connect with their staff and various stakeholders. Effective stakeholders’ engagement is a critical element in successful management,” he charged. “We have to define and defend our mandate.”
Hon. Patterson also hinted that there will be a revised structure on how the Ministry tackles roads and sea defence maintenance.
He, along with Hon. Annette Ferguson, Minister within the Ministry, was briefed on the agencies/departments’ roles, projects and financial performances among other things.
In her address to the Managers, Hon. Ferguson said she is enthusiastic to work along with the Managers, describing them as the backbone of the Ministry and servants of the people.
“We have the nation’s business to look after and we are here to get the job done,” she added.
The meeting involved 21 top officials including: Balraj Balram, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary; Ramesh Ghir, Chief Executive of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA); Geoffrey Vaughn, Coordinator of Works Services Group (WSG); Maitland Stewart, acting Chief Sea and River Defence Officer; Claudette Rogers Director General of Maritime Administration Department (MARAD); Marclene Merchant, General Manager of Transport and Harbours (T&HD); Zulficar Mohamed, Director General of Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA); Rawlston Adams, General Manager of Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB); Ron Rahaman, Chief Roads and Bridges Officer and Louise Williams, General Manager of Canawaima Ferry Service.
KINGSTON - Temporary bypasses are currently under construction in an effort to alleviate the traffic build-up due to the erosion of culverts which caused two sections – Miles 1 and 12 - from Annai heading towards Lethem to collapse.
The road link is essential for transporting goods and other commodities to and from Lethem.
A team of engineers from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure were immediately dispatched to assess the area and to formulate corrective short and long terms measures to remedy the situation.
According to Naeem Mohamed, the Ministry’s Hinterland Engineer, the eroded area is placed with six 3”x12” planks at Mile 1 which is traversable for light motor vehicles.
In addition, V. Dalip Enterprise will complete a bypass culvert to Mile 12 which also facilitates vehicles carrying loads not greater than five tonnes. The bypass/culvert is scheduled to be completed by tomorrow May 23, 2015.
Mr. Mohamed explained that the erosion occurred as a result of the high intensity torrential rainfall experienced over the past few weeks.
It must be noted that this area was experiencing a drought. This occurred during the period August 2014-end of April 2015.
Meanwhile, the newly appointed Minister of Public Infrastructure, Hon. David Patterson, has requested his Engineers to carry out a full assessment of the affected areas to determine permanent procedures that would prevent any re-occurrences in the future.
KINGSTON - The Ministry of Public Works is now officially renamed Ministry of Public Infrastructure by newly elected President His Excellency David Granger.
The name change was made public following the swearing in of its two Ministers yesterday, May 20, 2015 at the Ministry of Presidency.
David Patterson was declared Minister of Public Infrastructure and Annette Ferguson, Minister within the Ministry of Public Works.
Detailed biographies of both Ministers will be published shortly.
KINGSTON - Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson is awaiting some positive news as to the early reopening of the collapsed culvert in the Annai area, Lethem road which saw a section of the road washed away due to heavy rainfall.
Hon. Patterson said that he is waiting a report from engineers on the ground, but is aware that current works are being done to restore the damaged thoroughfare. While the road's current state under the rehabilitation work will not be known until today, May 21, 2015, Minister Patterson explained that he has already been in talks with the Minister of Communities formerly, the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry as to how the new government will not only tackle the poor quality road, but aid in preventative measures to address severe flooding in the Region Nine location, particularly the township. "I will be briefed by the roads department today," Patterson explained as pointed out that the ministry's engineers are seeking way to fix the road. The Minister noted, however, that he would be unable to say how soon the road will be reopened since he has to get an update from the workers at the affected site. Sections of the Linden to Lethem Road were washed away Tuesday 19 by heavy rainfall and the lone-north-south corridor to the Rupununi became impassable.
Several passenger buses and other vehicles remained in Georgetown and Lethem due to the inconvenienced. The new government was at the time contemplating steps to commence remedial works. While residents of the area stated that the road's condition would get worst, it has also been stated that it is almost fruitless to attempt to repair interior roads during very heavy rainfall.
The Linden/Lethem road is the only communication link for the transportation of numerous passengers, large quantities of food, fuel and other supplies from the coastland to the Rupununi.(Demerara Waves)
KINGSTON - A second Bridge in Moleson Creek, Region 6 is currently under construction and is expected to be completed by August month-end.
Construction of the GYD 84.5 M Bridge project began on February 27, 2015 by B & J Civil Works.
According to Sherod Parkinson, the Ministry of Public Works (MPW) Engineer overseeing the project, works to be carried out include the replacement of structural steel and driving surface and widening of support piers.
Due to the heavy traffic to and from the Moleson Creek Stelling, the Ministry initiated the expansion of two bridges, allowing for wider shoulders to alleviate traffic flow.
The bridge under construction will be 150 feet in length.
Meanwhile, the other bridge was completed in October 2014.
TIMEHRI - A little after 13 hrs on Friday, May 8 former United States President, Jimmy Carter arrived at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) on a private jet.
It is Mr. Carter’s third visit to Guyana as part of the observer team of the Carter Centre to witness the country’s general election slated for May 11, 2015.
The Mission is here at the invitation of the government of Guyana.
The Center’s observers will meet regularly with representatives of the Guyana Elections Commission, political Party candidates, civil society organizations, the international community, and citizen election observers to assess electoral preparations and the pre-electoral environment, including election administration, campaigning, voter education, and other issues.
KINGSTON - Once re-elected, the current administration intends to continue its on-going programme of enhancing the nation’s road and water transport sectors. This agenda, laid out in the People’s Progressive Party/Civic manifesto, will see the upgrading of the East Bank Demerara Road corridor to effectively address severe traffic congestion and road safety issues.
The strategy will involve the completion of the following complementary project over the next five years: construction of a new roadway between Ogle and Mocha, which will connect the East Coast and East Bank of Demerara while bypassing Georgetown.
This roadway will help to offset the transformation difficulties faced by residents of several new housing schemes currently under development which are adjoining the aforementioned areas. Completion of the four-lane expansion of the East Bank Public Road between Providence and Diamond, which is currently under construction, is also planned, along with the repaving of the roadway and improving road safety between Grove and Timehri.
The East Coast Demerara Road corridor will be improved through the construction of a four-lane highway from Better Hope to Annandale, upgrading of the two-lane roadway from Buxton to Belfield, and reconstruction of the problematic steel bridges along the Railway Embankment.
The PPP/C Government plans to complete the transformation of public transportation for safe, comfortable, affordable and efficient travel throughout Guyana. This will be done by training of all bus drivers and conductors in defensive driving, customer service and how to be tourism ambassadors. Regular and rigorous inspections of buses for road worthiness will also help to ensure the safety of vehicles and passengers who use their services.
Controlling traffic congestion within Georgetown through a multi-dimensional Sustainable Urban Transport Plan includes: rehabilitating roads in poor condition to offer more route options and better driving conditions; constructing sidewalks and overpasses throughout the city to protect pedestrians and reduce conflicts with drivers; introducing roundabouts and 'smarter' traffic lights to remove gridlock at intersections and expanding parking facilities.
Overall accessibility throughout Guyana's main road network will continue to be improved through rehabilitating of the Linden-Soesdyke Highway and the West Coast Demerara public road, which is already under contract.
The rehabilitation of the West Bank Demerara public road, and the Canals Number One and Number Two roads, for which the feasibility and design studies are close to completion; and the East Bank Berbice public road, for which the feasibility and design study is close to completion and funding has been secured.
An extensive maintenance programme for the road network will be treated as a high priority issue so that roads are not allowed to deteriorate until considerably more expensive reconstruction is required.
The life of roadways will be extended significantly though the following three activities: routine maintenance - fixing minor problems in the road surface before they become significant; recycling - using a deteriorated surface to create a new one, before layers below are exposed and weight control - ensuring that trucks are not overloaded.
Routine maintenance will be administered by awarding multi-year contracts for fairly large zones, which will create an incentive for repairs to be carried out correctly the first time. It will also encourage the purchase of efficient equipment, allowing staff to become specialised and develop localised knowledge of maintenance issues.
There are plans to improve maritime services for passenger and cargo ferry services to Bartica, Essequibo Islands and the North West District. A new ferry service from Georgetown to the Northwest District to reduce the travel distance/time by half, will be introduced, and the development of river taxis, will also be encouraged.
KINGSTON - Repairs to the Old Mahaica Bridge are completed and is now opened to restricted vehicular traffic as of April 29, 2015.
The restrictions are as follows: maximum height 9 feet (3.7m) and maximum load 4 tonnes per axle.
All vehicles exceeding these limits MUST use the Bridge along the Mahaica/Rosignol roadway which is approximately 2,500 feet (800m) from the Mahaica Old Bridge.
Signs have been placed along the roadway approaching the Bridge in both directions to indicate these restrictions. The Ministry of Public Works (MPW) is therefore advising drivers to adhere to the restrictions.
Rehabilitation works included the removal and replacement of damaged steel components, reinforced concrete deck, new revetments on both ends of the 175 feet long structure, new galvanized pipe hand rails, placing of restriction barriers with signs, chip clean and paint of the existing girders.
Pedestrians, vehicles drivers, commuters and residents expressed their gratitude to the Ministry for the project, and promised to report any vehicles trying to violate these restrictions that have been implemented.
The GY$33.9M rehabilitation of the landmarked bridge, which connects Regions Four and Five, started in September 2014 but faced a delay due to unforeseen structural decay.
Works on the 118 year-oldBridge were carried out by KB & B Contractors. Khiraj Bisesar, a MPW Engineer, monitored the project.
TIMEHRI - Signs recently erected by the Cheddi Jagan International Airport to discourage squatting on airport lands were destroyed two (2) days after they were emplaced.
The Ministry of Public Works notes that this is an extremely worrying event occasioned by persons who are bent on renewed squatting on areas recently occupied by the Guyana Defence Force for ammunition storage and by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority for antenna arrays for flight communications.
Squatters on airport lands are again warned to desist from this activity because of its implications for the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Expansion project and the maintenance of law and order in the protection of the property rights.
