New alternative by-pass from Diamond to Ogle in pipeline

Georgetown: The Housing and Water Ministry has commenced work on a massive outlay of road infrastructure across the country. One of the main projects that the Ministry is at present focusing on for the immediate future is a new alternative by-pass road stretching from Diamond, East Bank Demerara, all the way to Ogle.

This project is currently being designed, according to Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali. He explained that a feasibility study has been completed for this project and has since been submitted to the Indian Government for financing.

As the Ministry awaits the decision from India, it has been completing all surveys and designs for the project in the meantime. The Minister explained that the Ministry has been putting itself in a state of readiness to go out to tender.

Notwithstanding this, the Ministry is working on and has completed a number of road networks leading to Diamond and also constructing a number of primary connectors (roadways), that will establish a link between the existing East Bank Demerara Road and the new alternative highway/by-pass that is to be constructed.

Thus far, primary connectors have been completed in the following areas: Eccles, Providence, Herstelling, Perseverance, Mocha, Covent Garden, according to Minister Ali, while work is in progress at Little Diamond.

In addition, there is also the construction of secondary connecting roads, and Minister Ali said at least five of these have been completed and are being used.

These stretch from Eccles to Herstelling, he said.

The Ministry in support of urbanisation of the new housing developments, with the support from community and regionally based projects, has been putting in place infrastructure such as schools and multi-purpose centres.

It is in this regard that the Ministry has executed and completed a very important road in Region Three that offers an alternative access to a number of new and developing schemes, including the Parfaite Harmonie, Schoonord and the Rect-Door-Zee Housing Schemes.