Four-lane road, new highway among plans to ease East Bank congestion
Government is continuing its search for funding to widen part of the East Bank Demerara Highway into a four-lane road. This was disclosed by Minister of Public Works and Communication, Anthony Xavier, last week who said that several financial institutions, including the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), had been approached. Speaking from his Kingston office, Xavier said that the four-lane road to be constructed from the Demerara Harbour Bridge to Houston, was part of a larger project planned for the East Bank Demerara area. The new road would greatly ease the heavy congestion on that section of the East Bank Demerara at peak time. According to the minister, the project would be done in phases with the widening and construction of the four-lane road on the current one. Part of this project, estimated to cost between $400 million to $450 million, will also see the building of a new highway from Mandela Avenue, South Ruimveldt to Peter's Hall that will cater for traffic heading past this village, to Timehri. The second phase, with additional funding, will see this new road eventually extended and linked to the country's international airport. The entire concept, according to Xavier, was developed with a view to easing the current heavy congestion plaguing commuters from 7:00am to 9:00am and 3:00pm to 5:00pm. The bridge area has been seen as a major contributory factor to the problem. The minister, whose responsibility includes roads, disclosed that the designs for the East Bank project had been completed and were now awaiting the funding for works to commence. The project had been part of the larger one contracted to Trinidadian firm NH International/Emile Elias in 1995. However, the company demobilised and left after government terminated its contract, Xavier said. Explaining the project, the minister said that the four-lane road would be built on the current one from the Demerara Harbour Bridge to Houston. The current road will be widened and will accommodate two-lane traffic. In addition, the road branching off from Mandela Avenue will take some of the traffic off the bridge area. Rather than use the East Bank Demerara road, traffic heading south will go to South Ruimveldt to the new highway which will lead to a point past the bridge where it will eventually merge with the East Bank road once again. The 3,300 estimated vehicles said to be crossing the bridge daily must compete for a place on the East Bank road with that area's traffic. Xavier also lashed out at substandard work done by a contractor on a road linking Republic Park to Eccles. This road was in use by cars and small vehicles wanting to escape the bridge area during peak hours. The road, rehabilitated early this year, deteriorated within a few months. The minister disclosed that payment had been withheld from the contractor while remedial works were being done. This road had also been used by heavy vehicles until the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) of the area erected a structure over the bridge linking the two areas. The East Bank Demerara road, linking the city to the country's international airport, is the lone thoroughfare for commuters from East Demerara, West Demerara and Linden. At peak hours, long lines stretching as far as a mile south of the bridge at both ends, make what should be a 15-minute trip to Georgetown one-and-a-half hours long. It is not an unusual sight to see a horse-drawn cart leading the long line of traffic. The situation is further compounded by the traffic in downtown Georgetown, around the Stabroek Market area. In Lombard Street, vehicles park on both sides of the road. Xavier was quick to point out that his government was aware of the plight facing commuters using the road. One of the key aspects the ministry was looking at was traffic control and whether policemen were required earlier or later in the day or for longer to help in controlling the situation, Xavier said.  Follow the goings-on in Guyana
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