Members of the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce (RCCI) have proposed the closure of the Linden-Lethem trail for a week-long period so that repairs could be affected to the roadway without traffic.
Stabroek News was told that the proposal was developed at an RCCI meeting over the weekend. The proposal, which a resident described as “sensible” yesterday, was reportedly brought to the attention of the Works Ministry but the agency made recommendations for light traffic to traverse the roadway.
Regional Chairman Clarindo Lucas said that the idea to have the road close to traffic for the contractor to effect repairs to the road was a good idea but he noted that ferrying supplies to the region is critical at this time. He said that at the moment the region has sufficient food and fuel supplies but noted that the weather conditions remain the deciding factor in the area receiving goods from the Coastland.
Lucas also said yesterday that regional authorities are appealing to truckers to limit weight on their vehicles as the Linden-Lethem trail remains impassable in some parts. Additionally, sections of the Lethem/Aishalton road have started to deteriorate.
Lucas said that works to the trail are ongoing and he noted that the general condition of the road along the Hunt Oil Stretch and in the Cork Wood area, which is located approximately 178 miles from the Mabura/Rockstone Junction between Iwokrama Gate and Bush Mouth, has improved.
Other areas undergoing repairs are: the Home Oil stretch located 30 miles from Annai and extending two miles before the Meritezero Junction, which has seen a 10-mile section deteriorate; the Log Bridge located 30 miles from Kurupukari; and the washout located 6 miles from the Mabura/ Rockstone Junction Lucas explained that the private contractor employed by the Works Ministry to carry out works from the southern end of the Hunt Oil Stretch will be assisted by another work team, which will be concentrating on undertaking works from the northern end of the Hunt Oil Stretch close to the Pakaraima range.
He added that the difficult parts of the area in question—photographs of which were published in this newspaper—are within the middle of the stretch of road. Lucas made an appeal to the heavy vehicles to transport light weight along pivotal aspects of the road which are undergoing repairs. The Works Ministry stated recently in a press release that heavy torrential rainfall has not stopped in the area and the agency urged operators of heavy trucks, tankers, containers and low and flat bed vehicles that the maximum total load capacity allowed along the Linden /Lethem roadway is 12 tonnes. This measure was implemented to safeguard the road from further deterioration, the release stated.
Meanwhile, sections of the Lethem/Aishalton Road, a 104-mile stretch of road being repaired by the Works Ministry under the agency’s work programme, were damaged by heavy rains experienced in the area recently. Residents have questioned the quality of works undertaken to the road but Lucas noted that the project is an ongoing one that is to be completed by 2014. He added that 18 miles of work have been completed to date.
He said the road in question is mostly used by truckers and he posited that the heavy vehicles may have a role to play in the current state of the road. Reports are that sections of the road in the vicinity of Mountain Point have been in a slushy state with several craters present.
Lucas said that when works have been completed along the Lethem/Linden trial attention will be drawn to repairing the south Rupununi, Lethem/Aishalton Road.
