President Dr. Irfaan Ali says government is moving aggressively to overhaul road connectivity across Region Three as increasing housing and industrial activity continue to place pressure on the West Coast Demerara corridor.
On Tuesday, the Head of State toured several existing roadways and proposed alignments stretching from La Jalousie to Tuschen, where plans are being advanced to create alternative routes aimed at reducing daily traffic build-up between Ruimzeight and Tuschen.
“We have a massive traffic bottleneck now from La Jalousie. Heavy traffic is causing two to three hours of delay every single day,” President Ali said during the inspection.
The new roadway plan is expected to work alongside the ongoing Crane-to-Parika four-lane highway project by redirecting lighter vehicles away from the already congested West Demerara Public Road.
According to the President, the alignment will move through a number of expanding communities, including Meten-Meer-Zorg, Stewartville, Cornelia Ida and Hague, mainly along the former railway embankment.
Government is also preparing to rehabilitate and widen dozens of bridges along the route. “We are hoping that in six to eight months, we can bring relief for the traffic coming from La Jalousie all the way to Tuschen,” Ali stated. The road network is being designed primarily for cars, taxis, minibuses and SUVs, while heavy-duty trucks will remain on the main public road.Commander of Regional Division Three, Assistant Commissioner Mahendra Siwnarine, said traffic delays have intensified with increased movement tied to the new Demerara River Bridge project.
“Because of the new bridge, the traffic is travelling a bit faster, so we have that convergence causing a delay on the West Coast,” he explained. The President said the project forms part of a wider strategy to improve transportation efficiency, road safety and productivity in the region. “It will also aid road safety. It will also aid efficiency, create greater productivity and help families to move safer and more efficiently,” he said.
Meanwhile, Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal noted that Region Three has seen rapid expansion in recent years, with more than 11,000 house lots distributed and over 17 new housing areas established.
“Think about what is going to be happening with those persons accessing their new areas, as well as our continuing housing programme,” Croal said.
Ali further revealed that some 20,000 additional homes are expected to be developed in the region within the next four years, alongside large-scale projects including the Wales Gas-to-Energy initiative, a fertiliser plant, a data centre and a gas bottling facility. He said government’s long-term vision is to fully integrate Region Three’s expanding communities and industrial developments with the country’s broader highway and transport network.
