Several public roads along the coast will soon be outfitted with sidewalks and cycles lanes as the Public Infrastructure Ministry (MOPI) ramps up efforts to bolster road safety.Speaking with the Department of Public Information (DPI), Manager of Traffic, Safety & Maintenance at the MOPI, Kester Hinds said the ministry will be lobbying for the funds to allocated be for in 2019 budget.
He explained that public roads, which are subject to heavy traffic flows and where school children frequently traverse, will be first to be targeted. Among these are Diamond, Providence public road – on the East Bank of Demerara and Turkeyen public road, on the East Coast Demerara.
“What we find is that in most communities there are no sidewalks. For instance, on the Corentyne public road (Region Six) there is none and the residents would have to walk on the earthen shoulders, which can be slushy and muddy during the rainy season. So, we’re working towards having sidewalks constructed along this roadway and in several communities, providing we get the monies approved,” Hinds explained.
The ministry has already sent out bids for the construction of the sidewalks at an estimated cost of $88.8M.
Similarly, the ministry is also planning to construct cycles lanes along many public roadways. Hinds noted, “Guyana is developing and while many individuals are driving, cycles remain relevant as many persons still ride. So, with the cycle lanes, we will see everyone having access to safer facilities. We will be pushing for it so that we can incorporate them into our roads”
The ministry has already constructed sidewalks in Woolford Avenue and expended millions of dollars annually for the placement of road safety signs and other measures, across the country, to ensure that the road laws are observed and lives are preserved.
Ranetta La Fleur.
Images: Leon Leung.
