The Ministry of Public Works is ramping up pressure on utility companies to accelerate the relocation of poles, pipelines, and cables that continue to delay sections of the Grove-to-Timehri road widening and expansion project.
Public Works Minister, Bishop Juan Edghill, recently met with representatives from GPL, GTT, Digicel, E-Networks, and GWI, urging them to expedite relocation works, thereby allowing contractors to move ahead with critical phases of construction.
“As a follow-up to the meeting His Excellency had with businesses and residents being inconvenienced by this reconstruction, I conducted a site visit. The utilities—mainly telecommunications and water lines—must be relocated for the carriageway to be completed. Once finished, the people of Guyana will be extremely happy,” Minister Edghill said.
The $22.8 billion project, funded through the Indian Exim Bank, is a key component of the East Bank Demerara four-lane highway upgrade. The initiative aims to significantly reduce travel time between Georgetown and the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), improve safety, and ease congestion in rapidly growing East Bank communities such as Grove, Diamond, and Timehri.
Already, two lanes have been partially opened, giving commuters noticeable relief during peak hours. Minister Edghill emphasised that the benefits are already clear,
“This is rush hour. We got here just after eight o’clock, and with the two lanes already open, traffic is flowing. People aren’t missing their flights, and they’re not sitting for hours in bumper-to-bumper congestion. Imagine when we get all four lanes in place.”
The minister’s walk-through underscored the urgency of removing encumbrances so contractors can complete the western carriageway. Once fully delivered, the expanded roadway is expected to boost connectivity to key residential areas, industrial hubs, and the airport, while generating major economic and social benefits for thousands of Guyanese.
