Phase II of the Transportation Infrastructure Rehabilitation Programme is set to begin shortly with major works slated to be done along the Timehri to Rosignol roadways after contracts were signed yesterday.

The works to be done are divided into two lots, Lot 2A and 2B. The project aims to improve the road network reliability and driving conditions along the Timehri to Rosignol roadways by replacing and rehabilitating existing critical structures, a press release from the Government Information Agency (GINA) said.

The contracts for lots 2A have been sub-divided into three lots. Lot A-1 has been awarded to the Courtney Benn Contracting Services at a cost of $2,837,017,000; Lot A-2 to R. Bassoo and Sons Construction Company at a cost of $3, 572, 254, 000 and A-3 to BK International Inc at a cost of $460,420,000. The contracts were signed yesterday at the Ministry of Finance.

The works in Lot A-1 involves 13 structures from Garden of Eden to Timehri, of which 12 are reinforced concrete box culverts and the other an HDPE Pipe Culvert and 10 sluice gates.

Lot A-2 involves works on 11 structures, five of which are bridges which will also be built and five RC culverts constructed in Friendship and an HDPE culvert.

Lot A-3 caters for washing, sandblasting and painting of trusses; partial depth repairs to piers and abutments to the Abary Bridge. Guard rails and bridge rails will be repaired while rehabilitation with sand bitumen overlay and an asphalted concrete wearing surface will done to the existing roadway.

The release noted that Phase 1 of this project was done in 2006 by the Government of Guyana with assistance from the Inter-American Development Bank to the tune of US$23M. Eight-four of the more critical structures between Georgetown and Rosignol were rehabilitated or reconstructed. These included the construction of concrete bridges across the Mahaica and Mahaicony Rivers.

All the works will be supervised by the Works Services Group of the Ministry of Public Works along with Sheladia Associates Inc. of the US in collaboration with E&A consultants of Guyana, GINA stated.