Minister of Housing and Water, Colin Croal has communicated news which he said should be pleasing to the ears of commuters who traverse the East Bank corridor. Croal announced that the government has made yet another step towards the construction of a four-lane main access road from Mandela Avenue to Eccles.
An invitation to bid for the construction of the road has been extended to contractors. The tender document can be purchased from the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) from Monday.
The four lane access road is indeed one of the government’s big-ticket projects. It is anticipated to be of 2.8kilometers. This project will see the construction of some 13 bridges.
Croal has indicated that the project is expecting to officially commence in April this year. He also mentioned that the government was strategic in tendering the contract in six lots which will allow a spread for quick implementation.
The Housing Minister also noted that the tendering comes on the heels of a visit by President Irfaan Ali who had a firsthand view of the lining up of the access road.
Croal reminded of the government’s commitment that the portion from Diamond to Mocha will be completed by the end of February. He said that the government will make good on that promise. In fact, the minister indicated that that section of the road is expected to be commissioned by President Ali at the end of the first quarter of this year.
Croal was keen to note that the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) is pleased to be part of the project. He said that that agency sees it as an opportunity to showcase its capacity.
Further, Croal used the opportunity to note a number of other ongoing exercises with the communities for the upgrade and construction of roads in housing areas as part of housing development. He said that there are huge opportunities to be derived with the opening of a number of new areas.
Minister Croal commended the President’s leading role in the implementation of a manifesto commitment to ensure that more access is made available for new lands and the opening of a number of road networks. This augers well for the ministry and the country, he said.
