Works Ministry seeking contractor to shore up eroding Friendship river defence

A rip rap river defence is to be laid along the western end of the Friendship Public Road, East Bank Demerara, which has been deteriorating due to erosion.

Overseer at the Neighbourhood Democratic Council in the area Dianne Gossai says that the community is in dire need of some sort of sea defence since the edges of the roadways are deteriorating due to erosion and there are some issues with occasional floods.

A section of the barricade erected along the Friendship Public Road, on the East Bank of Demerara.
A section of the barricade erected along the Friendship Public Road, on the East Bank of Demerara.

An invitation for bids for the project was published in the Guyana Chronicle last week and Chief River and Sea Defence Officer at the Ministry of Public Works Kevin Samad told Stabroek News that he is eyeing two phases to complete the project. He said that the Ministry is currently working on Phase one of the project, which is approximately 350 metres.

The entire area to be shored up is approximately 750 metres. He also said that temporary barricades have been put in place to avoid vehicles from parking so as not to aggravate the shoulder of the road, which also serves as a defence from the river.

The invitation for bids states that the Ministry of Public Works is inviting bids from eligible and qualified bidders for the construction of a rip rap river defence. The invitation states that contractors should have undertaken at least one job of similar size and scope within the last three years. The invitation also calls for bids to be accompanied by a bid security of $2.5 M.