Region Eight (Potaro/ Siparuni) is undertaking a massive self-help road repair project “to alleviate the present peril posed by the existing state of the road” and as such the main thoroughfare will be closed from Monday, March 3rd.

In a press release the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) said the main access road between Tumatumari Junction and Mahdia, Potaro Road; i.e. Aisha Hill, Lucia/Land Rover Hill, Nikadock and Kunawak Hills; 12 Miles and 8 through 9 Miles is in a state of serious disrepair. The approaches to Tiger Creek Bridge have also eroded and as such it has initiated a plan of action for upgrading that will see the road closed for four days.

A public meeting was held at the RDC where stakeholders agreed to cooperate to “ensure safe access and use of the road.” The region said normally the cost for transportation from Georgetown is high but with the current state of the road the cost for some items have increased while others are scarce. This has had a severe impact on residents’ standard of living, the RDC said.

The meeting said lack of maintenance, the constant and prolonged rainfall and the traversing of fuel tankers and other overloaded heavy-duty trucks have contributed to the dilapidated state of the road.

However, residents said the absence of a competent authority to maintain the road was the main cause for the deterioration. Some said a section of the road was not maintained for more than a year and its deterioration caused undue hardship to the Mahdia/ Campbelltown/ Princeville communities.

The RDC said the road will be closed to facilitate the self-help activities which will enable the “competent authorities” to do their part of the road work.