Georgetown: The resurfacing of critical sections of the Linden/Lethem roadway, which has reduced travel time from 13 plus hours to seven, will be completed in another seven days.
This is according to a release from the Public Works Ministry, which said that the sections of the road that are slated for completion were “compacted with lateritic material”.
It was also noted that some 276 miles of roadway was upgraded under the project.
The release further stated that the multimillion-dollar project, which commenced in September 2014, was executed in phases by Troy Resources; Omai Gold Mines (OGM); Demerara Timbers Limited (DTL); Mekdeci Machinery and Construction (MMC) and Vevakanand Dalip Enterprise (DALIP).
Additionally, in an effort to improve visibility along the busy road artery, extensive bush cutting was done especially in the vicinity of the Iwokrama Concession.
In March, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds had disclosed that an engineering design required for the critical Linden to Lethem Road will cost an estimated US$10 million. He said the Guyana and Brazil Governments are yet to complete discussions on the financing of the critical project.
A Joint Working Group established under the Guyana-Brazil Cooperation Agreement had submitted the proposal. In December 2012, the Working Group on Infrastructure Projects was established following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two countries.
Further development
But with this proposal being tabled, along with recommendations for feasibility studies to be conducted on hydropower development in the Upper and Middle Mazaruni, a Joint Commission chaired by Ambassador Elisabeth Harper was set up to monitor the various activities. The commission was established in July 2013.
Foreign Affairs Ministry officials had said the redesigning and construction of the Linden/Lethem Road and the development of hydropower stations at Middle and Upper Mazaruni are interconnected.
In the 2014 budget presentation, Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh had said “negotiations have advanced substantially between the Brazilian and Guyanese technical working groups regarding the preparation of a design study for the construction of the Linden to Lethem Road”.
Under the Public Works Ministry, $55.092 million was set aside for Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) studies to be conducted on the Georgetown to Lethem Road. The ongoing project entails the provision for biodiversity study in the specified area.
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