GEORGETOWN, Guyana — The government has awarded 15 contracts for bridge construction as part of the four-lane highway planned between Schoonord and Parika, a major infrastructure initiative aimed at easing traffic congestion and boosting regional development, the Department of Public Information (DPI) reported.
The overall project, valued at GYD $15.1 billion, includes the construction of a key connector bridge at Canal No. One, which will support the movement of heavy-duty equipment and materials for the 15 additional bridges.
On Wednesday, Minister of Public Works Bishop Juan Edghill inspected the site along with engineers from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA). He said that the bridge’s design is under review following concerns raised by the NDIA about water-flow in the area.
“The design is what we are reviewing because NDIA has expressed concerns about water flow, and that is why we came to see what their concerns are,” Edghill said, according to DPI.
The initial section of the highway, stretching from Schoonord to Crane, has already been opened to traffic, while the next phase will extend the route to Parika. Officials say the project will not only reduce travel time along the West Demerara corridor but also unlock land for residential, commercial, and tourism development.