Portion of the Railway Embankment Road along Foulis on the Eastern Corridor, caved in Sunday, leaving a size-able crater in the middle. Drivers plying the route were concerned that they have been driving with imminent danger beneath them. The death trap which is about 6 feet in depth exposed substandard work and judging from the thickness seen, it was inevitable to cave in. In the past, concerns were raised about the quality of construction being carried out on the roadways, particularly the railway embankment, which often deteriorates under pressure.
The road is an important route for heavy duty vehicles, and it is expected to withstand tremendous pressure. This was part of the contract during the tendering process, however with the history of corrupt practices in these projects, the fundamentals are often ignored, hence the current state of the road. There are specific requirements for the road construction, for instance, the asphalt or bitumen should be at least 5 to 7 inches. In this case the asphalt above the red loom was just over 2 inches, a clear infraction of the contract. The tendering process in Guyana has often been unfair, with contractor paying their way to get the projects. As it regards the actual construction, the correct specification is often ignored although the full value is paid. The crater is expected to get worse if remedial works are not carried out immediately.
