Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson has revealed that the designs for the multibillion-dollar East Bank/East Coast Demerara road link have been completed.
“The designs are finished…Cabinet has granted me approval to come and start works and the consultation,” the minister was quoted by the Department of Public Information (DPI) as saying.
It was also announced that staff members within the Public Infrastructure Ministry have begun working on the final artistic rendering.
Commenting on the cost of the project during his Budget 2019 presentation, Minister of Finance Winston Jordan had said, “This bypass, which was estimated at $10.5Bi [US$50M] a few years ago for which funding was secured, is now projected to cost $25.1B [US$120M]. We will be approaching our bilateral partner to secure the additional funding to make this road a reality.”
Presently, according to Minister Patterson, approximately $2B has been approved by Cabinet, thus far, towards the project.
This four-lane highway project is being pursued to reduce traffic congestion on the East Bank of Demerara, to the East Coast of Demerara and Berbice. The road link seeks to, therefore, provide an alternative route for commuters.
Minister Patterson also announced that plans are in the pipeline to enhance traffic flow between Craig and Diamond on the East Bank of Demerara. The transformation will see the carriageway between those communities being widened.
Accompanying this road widening project will be the relative signs to boost road safety in the busy area. Minister Patterson noted that this upcoming project is President David Granger’s brainchild since he frequently traverses the area and understands the narrow road to be a topical issue.
