$188M roads project covers 14 housing schemes in Region 5

A $188M contract has been signed with B and J Civil Works for road construction and rehabilitation that will benefit 14 housing schemes in Region Five.

The contract is the first signed under the Community Roads Improvement Project (CRIP), which is aimed at improving access to housing, education, health, and other social infrastructure and caters for the construction of 204 roads, according to the Government Information Agency (GINA). The project will be implemented in 12 neighbourhood democratic councils (NDC) and will include repairing roads in regions Three, Four and Six.

B and J was awarded the contract to repair roads from Bath to Woodley Park. Its Project Manager Tyronne Comacho and Project Coordinator Karen Roopchand signed the document along with NDC chairman Cecil Ramdatt and Region Five Chairman Harrinarine Baldeo at a ceremony at the Bath market, in the presence of Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali.

Ali said that CRIP is a “people’s project” that will benefit over 13,000 Region Five residents. He said road linkages and road development create a positive impact, and as such he implored the community and the RDC to cooperate so that a high quality product is handed over to the community. The minister also said on completion of the roads, a Road Maintenance Plan will be handed over that would educate the local management on how to maintain the infrastructure.

“In Bath, 6.8 kilometres or 14 roads will be improved with Double Bituminous Surface Treatment,” GINA said, adding that the roads will be cleaned, reshaped and realigned and new drains will be built where necessary. In addition, three culverts will be rehabilitated and safety features such as signage, road markings and speed humps will be put in place. The roads targeted include: Bull, First Cross, School, Eddie Lall, Balkisson, Catches, Florist, Masjid, Second Cross, Third Cross Street, Sydney and Cow Dam.